The Mainsheet

by JEANIE CHUA

Dances such as Homecoming and Winter Formal are a big part of the high school experience. But, whether these dances live up to the hype is a different story.  

While recognizing the similarities between Homecoming and Winter Formal, I believe that Winter Formal was a better dance.

Harlyne J. Norris Pavilion in Rolling Hills Estates, the Winter Formal venue, was definitely an upgrade compared to the Homecoming venue, held in the Chadwick gym. Since so many people attended each dance, a bigger venue made the overall experience more enjoyable and less cramped.

Each dance had its own distinct decorations that created different vibes. Flashing neon lights that lit up the dark gym made Homecoming feel like a party or a scene from a movie. On the other hand, the warm lights scattered on the Pavilion roof, and the white tablecloths covering the tables surrounding the dance floor, made Winter Formal feel more elegant and formal … living up to its name. 

Winter Formal offered a variety of food and drink options, compared to the mere churros and water at Homecoming. 

At Homecoming, there wasn’t enough bottled water or cups for someone to drink from Chadwick’s water fountains. 

Formal, however, provided macaroni and cheese, tacos and churros to fill the stomachs of students, before and after dancing with lemonade and water for those who were thirsty.

At the Pavilion, it was much easier to differentiate between the various sections of the dance–the dance floor, dining area, photo booth and outside space. 

At Homecoming, many things were cramped together such as the photo booth and dance floor, making it hard to know who was waiting in line for the booth or just dancing. 

Photo booths are crucial to capturing the memories made throughout a dance. The photo booth at Winter Formal had its own room, which made taking photos more private and comfortable. Not only that, but the line for the photo booth was much more straightforward. Although entrances to the food and photo booths were quite close to each other, it wasn’t easy to get through.

The fashion trends at Homecoming and Winter Formal were contrasts in style, as the former had a masquerade-ball theme. 

Although having a theme made shopping easier, students had more freedom to express their styles at Formal. Many students wore suits and short dresses with a common color palette of blue, red and white.

Music was the only thing both dances had in common, with many similar genres and song choices. At both dances, there were highs and lows with the music, some songs that got students crowding the dance floor … and others that left us standing around the edges. 

As always, songs got better toward the end of both dances, as there were fewer students left to request songs. 

There might have been more students dancing at Homecoming because of the lack of seats. Still, the factor that improved the music at Winter Formal was the consideration of students’ song recommendations near the end.

Regardless of the differences, each dance provided unforgettable moments for all students who attended, thanks to StuCo.