In Washington

WHAT a party Mr Barack Obama is going to have next week.

Hours after he's sworn in as president next Tuesday, he will attend at least 10 - yes, that's right 10 - inaugural balls.

At some of them, he plays the host, like the youth inaugural ball - for young Americans aged 18-35 featuring Beyonce, Mariah Carey, JAY-Z and others.

Following tradition, he is also the host of the five regional balls (for guests from the Midwest, the West, the East, the South, and the Mid-Atlantic regions) and a ball for each of his home states Illinois and Hawaii.

Then, there's the neighbourhood inaugural ball being held for the first time - specially for the Washington DC residents and the Commander-in-Chief's Ball where guests will include wounded warriors and the families of fallen heroes.

And these are just the 'official' balls. He may also show up at any of the over two dozen other private, 'unofficial' balls, or so their organisers hope anyway.

For some, the balls are the social highlights of the year. But the veterans say they are nothing to dance about really.

To get in, you must clear mile-long security lines that eventually lead to more queues - to check in the heavy winter coats (so that the special tux and gown can be aired) and then to still more queues to get champagne (in a plastic cup) and grab a pretzel (rather than oysters).

As for the twirl on the dance floor, it can be quite a crush even in the years when the interest was not as sky-high as now. And if you blink, you might miss the president waltzing by.

The president and the first lady will basically zip in and zip out of the venues quicker than you can say Emperor Waltz.

After all, they're sure to be rushed around. Talk about dancing all night!