Halloween Dances Highlight Folklore and History

The annual Halloween dance took place on both coasts last Saturday, featuring unique spooky themes, crazy costumes, and swing dance competitions. New England’s juniors chose popular cryptids as their theme, while sophomores in California took a more historical approach. 

New England

Themed around mysterious cryptids of modern American myth, St. Frassati Student Center’s decor included a host of masterfully curated UFOs hovering overhead and Bigfoot lurking in a corner, obscured by full-sized cardboard trees. “The decorating crew did a fantastic job,” marveled John Hryniewicz (’29). “Everything looks amazing!”

At the cobwebbed and candy-strewn refreshment tables, a shrouded Nazgûl helped himself to a glass of punch while a yellow-mustached Lorax laughed at a joke from trench-coated Sherlock Holmes. Gladiators and goddesses, princesses and pirates swarmed about the room or swirled about the dance floor.

After an hour of dancing and mingling, the annual costume contest took place. Students first competed for the best individual costume, which went to Antonia Fitzpatrick (NE’27) for her handmade Icarus-esque firebird. Then, bands of students dressed on-theme and in impressive hand-constructed costumes, took to the floor for the group contest. Third place went to a Minion mob, second place to the Shrek squad, and first place to a wacky troop of Loony Toons characters. “The costume competition gave everyone the opportunity to go all out with the costumes, and it was so much fun!” said contestant Eve Milligan (NE’29).

An hour later, couples took the floor to show off their most impressive moves in the swing dance competition. After three rounds and one final, first place went to classmates Gabriel Livingston and Sophie Schindler (both NE’28). With all competitions complete, all settled in to enjoy the rest of the evening. “The juniors are super invested and did a nice job,” said Gabriel. “They put together a great dance!”

California

On the California campus, the sophomores hosted a dance themed “Museum of Infamous Historical Deaths.” The class embraced their one-of-a-kind theme by transforming St. Joseph Commons into a makeshift museum full of exhibits: CPR manikins were positioned all around the dance floor dressed up as notorious historical figures, such as Julius Caesar, Marie Antoinette, Jocasta, Abraham Lincoln, and others, and each station was accompanied by an informational placard about the character and their story.

The night commenced with homemade pre-dance entertainment in St. Cecilia Hall: a short film about a group of students on the hunt for their missing friend, with a Frankensteinian twist. Afterward, the group moseyed over to the St. Joseph Commons, where fruit punch, pizza, and a pretzel-and-candy-corn medley awaited them.

Nine o’clock sharp brought the costume contest, an opportunity for partygoers to flaunt their costumes to the crowd and win bragging rights. Competitors were first divided into three categories, singles, couples, and groups, parading around the dance floor before a randomized selection of judges. Stephen Ambuul (CA’28) championed the singles as scientist Steven Hawking; Karl Wall and Daniel Hernandez (both CA’29) won the doubles round; and last but not least, the title of Best Group Costume was awarded to a large contingent of juniors dressed as Dr. Seuss’s most beloved characters. Other audience favorites included a haunting Phantom of the Opera duo, Emma Saba and Mary Chumbe (both CA’26) as a girl and a pinata, and a multi-class group portrayal of the recent Louvre Heist. At the contest’s end, students applauded their peers’ costume creativity and took to the dance floor for a night of swing.

More Halloween Dance photos from New England ...

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... and California!