Ruby’s presence shakes up staid Vienna Opera Ball

THE TV cameras were told to ignore her, and Austria’s rich and powerful sought to avoid her. But amid all the bling on Thursday night at the Vienna Opera Ball, most eyes were still on one particular jewel — Ruby.

With Ruby, aka Karima el-Mahroug, at the centre of the scandal plaguing Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, her scheduled appearance at Austria’s ball of balls was a sensation most of the moneyed and influential guests present would have been happy to do without.

State TV was initially ordered to avoid covering her. But with the Berlusconi scandal big news, she was hard to keep out of sight — let alone out of mind.

Ruby’s comments on the eve of the ball added to Vienna high society’s bad case of nerves.

“I can’t waltz,” she told reporters before pausing for effect, and adding with a smile: “I can only belly dance.”

For centuries, Vienna’s high society has waltzed blissfully through wars, recessions and firebomb- throwing anarchists opposed to the moneyed decadence they think such events represent. But it has never had to deal with an 18-year-old dancer said to have been paid by Berlusconi for sex while she was still underage.

Vienna’s top priest was drawn into the fray, citing scripture in favour of her attendance. The ball’s organiser threatened to ban Richard Lugner, the quirky 78-year old millionaire who invited her and former “Dallas” star Larry Hagman.

State television’s program head ordered cameras and commentators to make a wide detour around her. That, in turn resulted in protests from TV employees who see her as the biggest news of the event.

A camera showed her arriving, barely visible because of the paparazzi.

In typical reporting ahead of the ball, this week’s front cover of News, one of Austria’s most widely read magazines, was dominated by a montage of Lugner in tails and top hat, his arm around a scantily clad Ruby and the headline “Scandal Surrounds the Opera Ball”.

It is THE event of the annual ball season that stretches from autumn into late winter. Watched on TV by millions from home, champagne-sipping government leaders hobnob with captains of industry from ornate boxes high above the main floor of the State Opera. Debutantes — daughters of the rich and famous — celebrate their coming out into the privileged upper echelons by opening the festivities with a lilting waltz.

Berlusconi was indicted last month on charges he paid for sex with Ruby, when she was under age, then used his influence to cover it up. Both have denied having a sexual relationship.

Lugner — who is reported to have paid €40,000 for her appearance — doesn’t understand the fuss. “If Berlusconi liked her, she’s good enough for the Opera Ball,” he told News.

As for Ruby? She was just looking forward to the evening.

“It’s certainly going to be a wonderful experience for me and I’m very grateful to get to go,” she told reporters.

While she won’t be among the first couples on the dance floor she says she intends to join the fun — despite her lack of waltzing skills.

“I’ll dance along. You always learn new things.”