The highly anticipated Sweethearts Dance aims to give underclassmen another chance to hit the dance floor outside of TWIRP. Despite the excitement leading up to the event, turnout, and engagement left mixed impressions among students.
Senior Evan Miller wasn’t particularly impressed. “It sounds like we always play the same songs, so I didn’t really notice the difference,” he says about the music selection. He also notes the crowd was primarily underclassmen. “It was a lot of underclassmen,” he observes, suggesting that the dance didn’t attract as many upperclassmen as expected.
Students gathered for the Sweethearts dance. (Sahara Small)
Students gathered at photo booth for a group photo at the sweethearts dance. (Sahara Small)
Senior Emma Meniur, however, enjoyed the night. “I thought it was fun,” she says, adding that she believes making the dance a tradition would increase attendance over time. When asked whether a different seasonal theme would work better, she supported keeping the Valentine’s theme. “I like Valentine’s because I feel like there’s already TWIRP, which is kind of close to Halloween.”
Despite Student Council offering the dance for free as a gift to students, attendance seemed to dwindle as the night went on. By 10:30 p.m., the crowd had thinned significantly, leaving many wondering whether a different approach might draw more students in the future. Some have suggested switching to a Halloween-themed dance, which could attract a broader mix of students and create a more festive atmosphere.
The question remains—Will the Sweethearts Dance become a beloved tradition, or will students push for a change? With mixed reactions and low late-night attendance, it’s clear that future dances may need a fresh approach to keep students engaged.
