Rhythm in Rio: Strong Turnout, Mixed Reviews

The 2026 Rhythm in Rio dance took place on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, exceeding its ticket goal by 50 sales. The student council had been working hard to prepare this dance since late October, directly after Homecoming, relying on extensive planning to generate enough profit for the Class of 2028’s prom.

When this year's theme was announced, many of the student body were disappointed at the get-go. It was another year where the Sadie Hawkins dance, which reverses traditional gender roles, was canceled and replaced.

“I was hoping that Sadies would come back this year, the theme for this dance wasn’exciting and didn’t target a specific demographic,” sophomore Bailey Adams explained. “A lot of people were planning to participate this time, but the theme was confusing, and it just wasn’t Sadies.”

Despite the initial announcement, student council members added several new elements to the dance, such as Chick-fil-A and a separate area playing the Rio movie for relaxation.

“We have advertised on social media, made signs, and even had some of our teachers announce the event to their classes,” sophomore student council vice president Grant Bauder emphasized. “It was fun, and you were able to hang out with your friends. I think dances are only boring if you make them boring.”

The dance received widely mixed reactions. Some attendees thought that it was boring and didn’t have much to do, while others thought it was a great experience.

“I didn’t really like the dance, there wasn’t much to do except take pictures and eat the free Chick-fil-A I got,” sophomore Chelsea Verry shared. “I think that the DJ could have been more open to song suggestions, and there weren’t enough tables for everyone to sit down at; I left early with my friends.”

Others who were more active on the dance floor recount a better time.

“The dance was so fun, but a lot of people preferred to sit at the tables the whole time rather than enjoy the whole experience,” Grant said. “It was really fun if you were dancing; it is the people that make it memorable.”

All in all, despite mixed reviews on the dance, the ticket sales had surpassed the quota by 50 sales, making it successful in the sales department. For the attendees, each experience was highly individual but still memorable for many students.