Welcome Back and Winter Ball make comeback

Aragon is holding five dances this year with the addition of the Welcome Back Dance and the Winter Ball.

Last year, the Welcome Back Dance was not held due to lack of leadership enthusiasm, despite being held in the past. Leadership Advisor Catherine Williamson says, “The Welcome Back Dance was discontinued because of attendance …, the detention policy, tardies … and maybe we didn’t get it off the ground soon enough.”

The Winter Formal was not held last year because of difficulty in finding a venue large enough to host 400 to 500 students for less than $10,000. In years past there have been 400 students that came to the Winter Ball.

“In order to accommodate that many students, we had to go off-campus … After Homecoming last year, students have been asking to put the Winter Ball back on calendars … Those that really like the dances are going to love the Winter Ball,” says Williamson.

This May, the dance committee will decide whether to keep the Winter Ball or not based on ticket sales.

Senior Colleen Hahn, a member of the dance committee, says, “We’ll keep our fingers crossed and test the waters…”

Williamson says, “I think it’s great that there is new interest in the dances, because it shows that the students show enough enthusiasm that they pay attention to our activities that are going on.”

“Because the detention policy changed, more people were allowed to come to dances. We’re hoping more people will be able to come,” says Hahn.
“[S]ince this is my last year, I want to spend as much time with my friends as possible,” says senior Felicia Dito.

The new dances also allow freshmen and sophomores to attend more dances. Sophomore Kerri Su says, “I hope [the dances] continue. Underclassmen can’t go to Prom this year, but it gives them something to look forward to.”

The increased number of dances may contribute to the rise of school spirit this year. Su says, “I think if we increased the amount of dances that we have, school spirit would get better, but then … school spirit comes from the students, so it might not change much.”

The dances normally pay for themselves. Every few days the price for the dances goes up, so it is important to buy them early.

Hahn says, “There was more money to spend on decorations and venues … we just wanted to add another dance just to see how it would turn out.”

The key to the success and revival of these dances all depends on the expenses. Ticket prices adjust accordingly.

Dito says, “I think that people will be really pumped up about the increase of the dances, especially the seniors.”

Hahn agrees, saying, “It’s my senior year, and it’s just one more dance to go to.”