Homecoming and Prom are recognized as essential parts of the high school experience, and are enjoyed by many students year after year. Though these dances consistently flourish, no winter dance has ever proven to be very successful.

In student leadership, planning responsibilities are somewhat shared throughout all grade levels, but are also designated more specifically by class for the varying dances and events that the school puts on. The freshmen are responsible for the planning of the winter dance.

“There’s always been a lot of people who have asked for that third dance because…pretty much anyone who doesn’t go to prom only really has homecoming, so there seems to be a desire…I am curious to see whether or not people act on that desire,” student leadership advisor Kristin Hawkins said.

At the beginning of the year, a series of polls were released that collected information on exactly what the student body wanted a winter dance to look like. This year’s winter ball is specifically tailored to the requests of the school, taking elements such as length of the dance, the date upon which it will be held, and the songs that will be played into account.

“I think the winter dances have never been as successful as the other dances because there’s never been a consistent winter dance, like one that’s been traditional like homecoming or prom, so it’s hard to get kids to want to go when they have no idea what it’s going to be like,” junior class president Abby Johnson said.

Creating a consistent winter dance is a challenging feat for the student council. Popular opinion of the winter dances among upperclassmen is primarily negative, and the winter dance is typically attended primarily by underclassmen.

“The winter balls are just terrible, because most of the time upperclassmen don’t even go, just because they either have something interfering or because they realize that dances aren’t that fun, and then the underclassmen that go don’t want to dance, so they’re no fun,” junior TJ Davis said.

The lack of upperclassmen attendance contributes to the lack of success of the winter balls and perpetuates the cycle that makes the dances underclassmen-dominated.

“Obviously the majority of people that have sought this dance out have been freshmen because they’re used to having more frequent dances, but I’m hoping that everyone will go because everyone finds it in their hearts to want to come together at the end of kindness week,” Hawkins said.

This year, the student council will be putting on a Sweetheart’s Ball winter formal to conclude Kindness Week on Friday, February 17th. Tickets are $8.

“I think more planning always adds to more success, however this student body is a little different. They’re kind of hard to read. It kind of depends on if someone is bold enough to go out and buy tickets first and start the trend with it, and I think people will follow,” Hawkins said.