On Saturday, February 3rd, Page High School students gathered for a night of music, dancing, and celebration at the school’s first-ever Winter Formal. This dance has previously been known as “Twirp” but has since been changed due to concerns about it being “sexist”. The highly anticipated event transformed the gymnasium into a vibrant disco-themed dance floor, welcoming students into a world of groovy decorations, hanging lights, and nostalgic ‘70s-inspired décor.
The doors opened at 8 p.m., with students arriving dressed in their best attire, eager to enjoy the evening with their friends. Seniors were dressed in their dynamic duo outfits as this has been a long running theme each year for seniors. Teacher volunteers greeted students at the entrance as they stepped through the decorated gym doors into a setting filled with paper-made records, streamers cascading from the ceiling, and colorful lighting to magnify the disco theme.
Inside, the atmosphere consisted of varying experiences. Some people were buzzing with excitement as they hit the dance floor while others stood around watching the movements of others and letting hesitation fill them. The night began with an empty dance floor as most people didn’t love the music. This appeared to be a common feeling that was felt by most students. Students stood around on the dance floor as more rap and country music was being played rather than widely known pop songs. Speculation went around that this could be blamed on the student council’s failure to create a widely enjoyed song list. Others blamed it on the DJ himself. Either way, the music was not broadly loved and led to an early retreat by most people.
Another issue that was brought up was the size of the dance floor. Most students were made to dance on the tarp that had been laid down which brought up some complaints and led to some people feeling disconnected from the crowd and the music.
Though the lack of well loved music seemed to be an overriding theme for the dance, the students who stayed were still able to bring liveliness to the atmosphere and kept the energy going. As the night progressed and more people left than came, smaller groups began to take over the dance floor, forming circles and hyping each other up despite the mixed reception of the playlist.
Many students took breaks from dancing to capture the moment at the photo stations, which featured disco balls and a sparkly backdrop. Others gathered around tables to enjoy time with friends, making the most of the night in their own way.
Despite the critiques, for many, the first-ever Winter Formal was still a memorable experience. It was a night filled with friendship, fun, and the collective effort of students determined to have a good time. While most left early, some stayed to truly soak in the experience. Though improvements could be made for next year’s event as many hope for a more student-driven music selection, the overall consensus was that the introduction of Winter Formal was a step in the right direction for Page High School. With a few changes, it could become a beloved tradition.
