Students formed conga lines across the Green and enjoyed a vivid night during Leadership’s surf-themed Welcome Back Dance on Friday. It marked the first dance of the school year, and for many attendees, the first of their high school careers.
Leadership ran concession stands around the Green, featuring refreshments and snacks like free popcorn and tiki punch.
Entry cost $10, not including food or refreshments. Some students were surprised to be paying at all. “I came here thinking that it would be free and chill,” freshman Konrad Mordec said. “Everything costs money.”
Junior Jaime Parada DJed throughout the night, playing classic, catchy tunes like Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” and Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the U.S.A.” Students formed circles and mosh pits as they crowded the dance floor.
“This is my first time at an event, but this is the best DJ,” freshman Ryan Bahadori said.
“This event has a new DJ, a great playlist, face paint, and better energy. It’s a lot more hype and a lot more exciting than previous years,” Leadership Senior Class Advisor Willow Basta said.
Bubble and face paint stations provided students an entertaining break from the dance floor and a way to adhere to the beachy theme.
“You can get sort of all dressed up a little bit, add some themed stuff if you didn’t get a chance to get dressed up,” Basta said.
Many of the students who showed up were underclassmen. “Usually, the people that come are mostly freshmen, and it’s so they can come meet each other,” sophomore Leadership member Sara Martinez-Fernandez said.
For Leadership, the dance doubles as an on-ramp to bigger events later in the year.
“This dance is really special and important for people who are more introverted or afraid to come to dances because it serves as a stepping stone to go to other ones,” Leadership Senior Class Advisor Alexa Habibi said. “For people with physical disabilities, this dance is pretty supervised and calm compared to homecoming or prom.”
“I learned about this event from M-A Today, and my friends and people I know were egging me on to come,” freshman Carlton Broussard said. “I’m planning to go to all the future events that I can go to.”
This year’s first dance set the bar for homecoming and prom. “[Leadership] did the best job,” Bahadori said. “Huge props to the M-A Leadership team.”
