Making Merrie at the Mediaeval Dance

Inspired by Dr. Amy Fahey’s recent lecture on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the sophomores put on a medieval dance for the freshmen, marking the final welcome event of the year for Thomas Aquinas College, New England. 

This was the first indoor dance of the year, and the sophomores completely transformed St. Frassati Student Center to match the dance’s theme, Sherwood Forest. They adorned the walls and balconies with festoons of elegant drooping vines, cut that day from the woods on campus. There were tree stumps here and there, surrounded by vines and glowing candles. The refreshment tables groaned under the weight of vats of spiced apple cider, platters of grapes and cheese, and handmade apple pies.

Students enthusiastically took great pains to dress according to theme: medieval princesses in swirling silky skirts whirled about the dance floor with serfs in farmers’ garb; knights and highway robbers escorted peasant girls in aprons and handkerchiefs to sofas and brought them hot cider. The music was a sprightly selection of waltz and swing, and students spun about the room together while others sat or stood at the sides, talking and laughing.

“These dances create an environment that makes it so fun and easy to be involved with everyone in the community,” observed Catherine Kuykendal (‘29). “It’s especially nice to spend time with people in the other classes and those you wouldn’t otherwise interact with regularly.” 

More Sophomore-Freshman Dance photos …

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