The Winter Ball

In this article, Kenlee talks about the annual winter dance.

Meet Me At Midnight: The Annual Winter Dance

By Kenlee Rapport

Grants Pass High School hosted its annual Winter Ball on Sat. Feb. 1, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. The theme was “Meet Me at Midnight”, which can be translated as stars and shades of blue. It was a semi-formal dance, so students could dress up or dress down to preference. Students were dropped off and entered through the pro-tec building.

Presale tickets were available for purchase at the bookkeeper for students who had 90% attendance or above. The tickets were also for sale at the entrance, where they cost fifteen dollars. A student ID or the 5-Star Student app is required to attend all dances. Identification needs to be out or open when in line. If a student wants to bring a guest from another school then there are guest forms available at the bookkeeper. It is best to arrive early to dances, since doors close at 9 p.m. and no students can enter after the entrance is shut.

GPHS Leadership students worked hard to ensure the Winter Ball was inviting and that the decorations coordinated with the theme. Addie Adamo, a 9th-grade leadership student at GPHS, said on behalf of the Leadership team, “We spent weeks planning and about three hours decorating.” Make sure to express your gratitude to the Leadership students.

Along the PAC entrance, blue and white tinsel was strung across the lockers. Apart from the entrance where the cloakroom was, there was a virtual photo booth where students could dress up with paper accessories and take pictures with their friends. The cafeteria was cleared out with disco lights and silver disco balls hung on the roof. On top of the DJ booth was a large sign painted with the theme “Meet Me At Midnight”. Along the walkway were pretty blue lights leading students from the entrance to the dance. Overall, the dance had the essence of meeting someone at midnight with the hues of blues and silvers.

Image of the dance DJ, taken by Kenlee Rapport

Image of Kenlee Rapport and Rakie Jagne dancing, taken by Kenlee Rapport

Despite the incoming forecast of rain, students seemed to get creative and bring umbrellas and fashionable rain gear. However, luckily, the weather was on the students' side and only turned out to be a slight sprinkle by the end of the night. Undoubtedly, many students agreed that the DJ's choice of songs made the night better, especially with his smooth transitions. Penny Ely, a junior at GPHS reported that her favorite part was “The music. It’s catchy.” The DJ played a mix of hip-hop, and students sang “They Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar in unison. Sorry, not sorry, Drake. The staple party music was mixed in with, surprisingly, a couple of country songs. Students slid across the floor to the Cupid Shuffle and there was an iconic dance-off that resulted in a freshman crowd surfing. The entire night created a unique atmosphere.

Taking the entire scene into account, there were your average couples swaying, super loud music, sore feet from heels, and a large, sweaty huddle of students. Going with the right people is what makes dances spontaneous and fun. Dani Porterfield, a 9th-grade student at GPHS, emphasized that “The crowd you hang out with can completely dictate your night.” Choosing the right people can uplift the boring stigma of dances.

Image of the crowd, taken by Kenlee Rapport

In short, the annual winter dance, from the view of a student, was fun-- like any other dance. The decorations were well-coordinated with the theme and the DJ made the night extra fun with his songs. Anna Pollard was crowned as queen and the king was Owen Hull. Dances are a great opportunity for the whole student body to come together and have fun. They are a chance to hang out with friends and possibly even make new ones.

Sources:

Interview with Addie Adamo
Interview with Dani Porterfield
Interview with Penny Ely

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