On Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, Aliso Niguel High School had its annual winter formal dance from 7-10 p.m. at the AV Hangar in Irvine California.
The dance’s theme was Tangled, manifesting itself through purple and gold decorations. It was announced at the winter pep rally, along with the themed dress-up days leading up to the event.
The first floor of the hangar included a dance floor and room with balloons as well as an outside area with a coffee truck and a dessert table. The outside area with the food items was a popular spot among students as there were tables to talk and eat at. Upstairs there were consoles to play video games and a balcony looking down on the dance floor.
The dance was prepared by Aliso Niguel’s ASB, who has been planning this event for months. They decided on a theme and allowed students to vote for the Winter Formal Court for each grade.
Claire Bierman (10), the ASB Sophomore Vice President said, “My role in preparing for the event was collaborating with Lyla Fernandez and figuring out the theme as well as decor for the dance.”
When it came time to announce the Winter Formal royalty, the winners were brought on stage as their peers cheered on the dance floor. However, not every winner attended the dance, making the ceremony seem less important.
Last winter, many students complained of the chilling temperature of an outdoor venue. To combat this, Aliso moved back to the Hangar where Winter Formal was hosted in 2023.
Bierman reported, “A few changes we made from last year was finding an indoor venue as well as a venue closer to our community.”
The changes allowed students to feel more comfortable in their clothing, especially formal dresses, without feeling too cold. While there was an outside area, most of the venue was indoors where attendees could enjoy the dance.
Despite the adjustments, there are always new issues to resolve. The attendance was much lower than expected and lower than that of previous years or at Homecoming. The limited number of people made the space feel very large compared to the population size.
Another issue was the lack of activities available during the event. Students enjoyed the music and snacks but wished there were just a few more games or other activities they could take part in.
When asked what she would change to improve the overall experience Bierman responded, “I would improve making use of the space in the venue. It was really big and I feel like we could incorporate more into the dance.”
At the same time, the low student attendance contributed to a more intimate atmosphere where friends could dance with their friends without worrying about a massive mosh pit. At some points in the night, the DJ slowed the songs down, allowing students to dance with their dates.
Bierman’s final thoughts on the event: “I enjoyed getting to see so many people having fun at the dance.”
