New Trier’s Homecoming dance for sophomores, juniors, and seniors took place on Saturday, October 19, from 8-11pm. It gave Trveians a chance to gather and celebrate the 37-6 victory at the Homecoming game.
According to Pep Club President Mikayla Bernstein, Pep Club started to plan the Homecoming dance last Spring. They voted and selected the theme “Circus: The Greatest Show on Earth.” The dance was held in the main gym at the Winnetka campus. Pep Club and Tri Ship worked to- gether for over five hours decorating the school.
“Our sponsors spent a lot of time researching and ordering lights, props, and decorations for the school and dance,” said Bernstein. “It was a lot of work but turned out great!”
Pep Club officer, Sarah Abrams, explains the creative outlook of the dance. “We had red and white stripes everywhere, and cool lanterns hang- ing from the walls. We also had stand-up pieces that were circus themed, like circus typical animals.”
“My favorite decoration was this huge sign that said “The Greatest Show on Earth” and had animals along the bottom. I don’t know if it was hand painted, but it looked amazing,” said Katherine Mayer.
When walking into school on Tuesday morning October 15, Trevians saw the decorations in the rotunda promoting the dance’s theme, exciting the students for the homecoming dance and other homecoming oriented celebrations going on throughout the week. The rotunda and front entrance walls were completely covered in red and white stripes representing a circus tent. There were other decorations of circus animals and flags descending from the ceiling.
“I liked the circus theme; I thought the decorations in the first floor rotunda were sick,” said Junior Jessica Jeon. “They were so cool!”
Students seemed to like the decorations in the rotunda more than in the gyms for the actual dance. Ellie Wiley, a junior, said, “I thought the decorations were well done although they didn’t seem to fit the circus theme.”
Another student, who thought that the decorations could have been better, was junior Carly Levy. “They could have gone more full out with maybe streamers hang-ing everywhere [like in the rotunda] or maybe some hanging stuff. I mean it’s the circus! It should be crazy and wild!” However, she did enjoy taking pictures in front of the colorful wallpapers and backgrounds at the dance.
Others were indifferent to the circus theme. “I didn’t really notice the decorations at the dance,” states Caroline Corley, a junior. Most students were at the school dance for under an hour.
Julia Levin, a junior, says she “doesn’t even remember the decorations and didn’t even know the theme was Circus.”
Owen Phillips, a junior, speaks highly of the homecoming décor when he says, “Everything was great. Well decorated,” but continues: “I could care less about the specific theme from year to year but it’s always well done. I mean if you want to make something ‘circus-y’ there should not be strobe lights and you should add circus music, but what are you gonna do? It’s a high school dance.”
The dance was held in the main gym and DJ services were provided by RHA Entertainment. A sophomore, Justin Stateman said of the DJ, “Gangnam Style” and “Thrift Shop” were played. It was just music that has been overplayed.” Amy Hudson said she was there for 30 minutes and everyone was dancing near the front and having fun, then towards the back people were mingling and talking.
Juniors and Seniors are not required to dress formally for the dance, and many attendees commented on this. Usually a group will dress in a matching theme. “I was much more comfortable! It was awkward last year being the only grade who dressed fancy,” said Julia Levin, a junior who can now dress in costume. This year, party goers saw some reoccurring, classic themes and several new ones, including Disney, Hawaiian, safari, cowboys and aliens, cops and convicts, high school cliques, and Boy/Girl Scouts. One particularly unique theme was “Cats and Gods,” named after a typo of “cats and dogs” in the group’s Facebook group page.
The class of 2016 experienced their first year of homecoming. Most sophomores agreed that it was much different than the Turnabout dance they were allowed to attend last year. “Being a sophomore at homecoming was slightly awkward because we were dressed formally and everyone else could wear cool costumes” says Bea McManus.
Homecoming’s gift this year was a New Trier lanyard, an item Pep Club decided upon for its gender neutrality and functionality.