By Grace Kennedy, Opinions Editor, and Conor Gillingham, Buzz Editor
After a year of absence, Herndon’s Homecoming Dance has made its grand return. This year, the dance looked a little different, with freshmen and sophomores not having experienced any dance opportunities due to the pandemic. So, taking a look back, did the dance lived up to expectations?
The theme for the Homecoming dance this year was “Herndon Goes Hollywood.” Leadership incorporated the theme primarily into the design for the entrance to the dance. There was a ‘runway carpet’, gold and black balloons, gold stars, and other decorations to bring the theme to life.
As students arrived to the dance, many were disheartened by the large group gathered at the entrance to the cafeteria. By nine p.m., the line to enter the dance was extremely backed up, and there was a tedious 30-minute wait for students before they could even reach the ticket table.
Once inside, the dance showcased a DJ, photobooth, an illuminated courtyard complete with drinks and snacks. Near the DJ was a group of students forming a miniature mosh pit, which quickly turned into a rowdy free-for-all. There were a few students who took advantage of the free water bottles provided and, naturally, began spraying the crowd with water.
Within the crowd of students, a few were lifted up and carried overhead to the sound of amused cheers. Students that had not gotten stuck in the larger crowd were able to intermingle and get a glimpse of each other dressed up. Junior Maya Velasquez shared, “My favorite part was seeing my friends, dancing together, and the mosh pit.”
The courtyard attached to the cafeteria was the perfect spot to take a break from the excitement inside. Herndon Leadership provided chips and water bottles on the picnic tables for students to enjoy.
The dance came to an end around 11 p.m. Students in Leadership stayed late to help clean up, while everyone else slowly exited the cafeteria. The next school dance will be Snowcoming, which will most likely occur this winter. That’s a wrap on Herndon’s Homecoming of 2021!