Homecoming Dance

On October 21st, students and staff of Kenmore West attended the long-awaited Homecoming Dance! The event sold out extremely quickly because the number of tickets available decreased by about 100 from last year. The administration was particularly worried about the amount of supervision and safety of students. Many students attending the dance planned to bring dates that attended other schools, but unfortunately for them, it was a closed event. Student Council member Olivia Viana says, “The dance met capacity with just KW kids so it couldn't be open. There just weren't enough tickets.” The staff tried their best to resolve this issue by just opening up more tickets to seniors who weren't able to get tickets and to kids under “extenuating circumstances.”

As this was my first homecoming dance, I would like to say it exceeded my expectations. The gym was decorated nicely by Owen Van Dewater, Aidan Bieron, and members of the student council with balloons and other sparkly streamers. The large mirror ball that hung in the middle of the gym was a hit, bringing some sparkle and shine to the faces of the students. One student said, “It was a different but good atmosphere compared to the other dances, there was good energy all around as well as many students.” Doors opened for the dance at 7:00, which created a very long line out the door. Many were cold but it was well worth the wait to get inside to the fun. Upon entering the building, you’d walk through metal detectors and then walk through the small gym if you had a bag that needed to be checked. It was a very secure and safe check-in. When approaching the gym, the lines were separated by last names A-K and L-Z to speed up the process of ticket checks, where you would participate in the final step of showing photo identification. A table was set up near the gym doors where concessions such as pizza, cookies, water, and light-up glasses were sold for a reasonable price by the Class of 2024. The music inside was played by DJ Extreme, who has done many Ken West dances and knows the students' music taste. He played hits such as “Family Ties” by Kendrick Lamar and classics like “The Cupid Shuffle” that filled up the dance floor. Another student says “It was a good way to have fun with their friends after a restless week of work.” Throughout the night students had a chance to participate in a couple of slow dances, giving them a rest from the constant action. The atmosphere was electric and lively. At 10:00 pm the dance came to a close and students were excited to take in the excitement of the night. Overall, the 2023 Homecoming Dance was outstanding in bringing up school spirit and a great opportunity for student engagement!