For many high school students, school dances symbolize the typical high school experience. However, many Aliso Niguel High School seniors no longer view the school dances as a milestone. From unmet expectations and ticket prices, the decline in senior attendance at school dances represents small changes in high school culture.
For many seniors, cost is a major factor in not attending the dances. Cost can include dresses/suits, tickets, and dinner, creating a large financial burden spent on dances.
Senior Alyssa DeGuzman commented that oftentimes the dance itself is not the highlight of the evening, but the times before and after are.
“I don’t go to the dances because I think tickets are too expensive and the only parts I actually like are pictures and dinner,” DeGuzman said. “The dances I’ve been to were fun, but the highlights are always before or after, so might as well just go to that and save the money.”
Many seniors tend to place more value on the moments around the dance instead of the actual event. Cassidy Monsod (12) agrees, “I do not attend school dances because the ticket prices are not worth the experience at the actual dance.”
Monsod continues, “I take pictures and spend the money on dinner instead, it’s the same value to me because I get to dress up with my friends and have a nice meal without spending half as much on the ticket.”
For many seniors, the social scene can be recreated later without having to pay for a ticket to a school dance. Whether it’s a small kickback with friends or a fancy dinner, Aliso Niguel students are finding that they can spend time with their friends outside of a school dance and still make the night worth it.
This year’s Winter Formal dance, on February 7th, was held at the Yost Theater located in Santa Ana. While the unique venue was visually stunning to the eye, seniors were quick to notice and comment on the lack of activities.
Milo Rios (12), an attendee of Aliso Niguel’s Winter Formal, described the pros and cons of the night: “Winter formal was a little boring due to there being nothing to do besides dance. The music was really fun, and the lights were well designed. However, the music was absurdly loud, and I could not hear myself or anyone else that well for the rest of the night.”
Despite the downsides of the night, Rios continued to add, “It was still a very fun winter formal!”
Although senior attendance is on the decline for Aliso Niguel school dances, the seniors who are in attendance still view them as important milestones in their high school memories. The number of seniors opting out of dances signifies that high school culture may be transforming and transitioning as the years pass. As students look for experiences that are more worthwhile and valued, school dances fall short, and therefore, may have to transition into something new.
