For those who want to capture the spirit of 50’s teen life, there is no better opportunity than the Big Band Dance. Sponsored by the music department, the jazz band and swing choir provide an evening of entertainment different from usual school formals.
According to jazz band director Mr. Doug Hoover, the dance started as an effort from the PTO to have another formal evening. The band members used to be fitted with white dinner jackets and the guests would be served finger foods.
“Besides Prom and Homecoming, it’s the only event that’s been going on for more than thirty years here,” Hoover said. “About twenty years ago the PTO thought they should be getting more money for the amount of time they put into it, so they handed it over to the music department.”
The large difference in mood creates a different atmosphere than other school dances, which students seem to think is an interesting change.
“I love the jazz music, the atmosphere and the dancing” junior Emily Walters said. “The dance is very retro and it’s so much fun.”
The most notable difference is by far the music. Instead of a hired DJ who plays the top tracks of the week, the school’s own jazz band plays various jazz music, including some that members of Pizzazz sing along to. Pizzazz also performs choreographed dances to swing songs, such as this year’s Fly Me to the Moon.
“It isn’t a fundraiser, it’s an educational opportunity for the kids,” Hoover said. “The get to be like professionals for a night, they even play forty tunes.”
Aside from the music, the audience and formality differ from traditional dances. Families are encouraged to come and while most people don nicer clothing there is no formal dress code.
“I like the formality of Homecoming, King of Hearts and Prom,” senior Ben McIntyre said. “I think that if the Big Band Dance was more formal it would attract more audiences and be an even bigger hit.”
While McIntyre thinks the casualty is fun, but not as appealing, Walters says that there is another way to attract more students.
“I think other school dances would be better if they played a larger variety of music. They would be much more appealing to a larger audience if they did,” Walters said.
Even with the discrepancies on good aspects of them, both students agree that the differences are what make each dance enjoyable.
“The differences make both dances stronger,” McIntyre said. “Assimilating them too much would make one or another less fun to attend.”
