Students Dress to Impress: WinFo
Maneuvering around puddles of slush in silk dresses, suits and heels, students from all around campus gathered in Grainger Auditorium to attend WPEA’s Winter Formal dance last Saturday.
Upon entering the Phelps Science Center, a line had already formed for students to be photographed in front of a wintry, balloon-decorated backdrop. The live band’s music resounded through the building, up the staircase where groups of students were posing for pictures. Many students joined the dance floor, socialized with fellow students and enjoyed the assortment of snacks outside of the entrance of Grainger.
One of the main draws of the dance was the food. The hors d’oeuvres included a wide selection of sweets such as cream puffs and strawberries, as well as pigs in a blanket and baked pastry. Beverages were available and the tiny rose-gold forks made a charming splash.
Attire did not disappoint as students pulled out all the stops for this well-attended dance. Many rocked a more typical outfit, sporting suits and dress shirts, while others opted for a spin back in time, wearing large ballroom gowns, Hawaiian shirts or unique accessories. Others thought more about comfort, standing out in sneakers, sweatpants, and sunglasses.
Student performers provided lush music for the reception, and an outside band provided lively, upbeat music for the dance. The setlist also incorporated more pop and current songs rather than jazz or instrumental music, which we felt helped set an inviting, exciting tone while students streamed in.
The decorations transformed the science center into a blue and white winter wonderland. The tables facing the small stage where the student performers have had a very elegant feel to them, especially with the glass centerpieces filled with fairy lights.
As usual, extensive planning went into the process of organizing the event—both from students and faculty. As Assistant Director of Student Activities and advisor for WPEA, Kelly McGahie noted the collaborative process, noting that “[Winter Formal] was a team effort,” she said.
Returners to the event noticed that there were many efforts made towards improvement. Emma Cerrato, a senior on the planning board, said, “We took feedback from last year to try to fix problems for this year.” Some of those changes included a different location for the photo booth as well as a different location for the refreshments. Emily Kelleher, another senior on the planning board, noted a change in music. “[Winter Formal] never had students really singing. It’s always been people playing jazz music,” she said. “And so I really liked this—the songs this year and the group that we chose.”
Although some students noted that it got a bit stuffy inside the venue, it was still a fun morale booster in the cold winter season. The combination of fancy suits and dresses, student performers and good snacks brought lots of joy to the PEA community.