School dances have been a staple of high school tradition since the early 1900s. Some may say they are the best part of a person’s high school experience. Dances at Alta have always been fun and come with exciting traditions and customs. Many of these traditions differ greatly from other schools in Utah, the US, and even around the world.
Promposals are fun and unique ways of asking your date to a dance. One thing unique about Alta is that students ask for their date with a “promposal” poster for every dance. They can be as simple as a cheesy pun with candy or as elaborate as being presented in person with various gifts.
“I think asking people to dance with posters is great,” Emily Vance, a senior at Alta, says. “Not only is it super creative and sometimes humorous, but for some, it can be less nerve-wracking than [asking] face to face.”
Even though Utah is usually classified as a state with elaborate high school dances, many other American teenagers spend much more on promposals.
Visa.com conducted a survey in 2015 about the cost of promposals. It concluded that”…the burgeoning phenomenon of ‘promposals’… are costing the average American household with teens a staggering $324 in 2015.”
While the rest of America saves all their elaborate posters for prom, Alta students borrow that custom on a budget for every dance.
After the promposal has been accepted, the day activities are planned. Day activities are a custom where a group of couples going to the dance get together and do something fun. According to a forum from promdress.net about prom traditions around America, day activities are unique to Utah. The activities usually take place in the afternoon before the dance. Many schools would think it unheard of not to have the whole day to get ready.
“I really like day activities,” Chloe Dwyer, a senior at Alta, comments about day activities. ”They give you a chance to get to know your group and your date better.”
Day activities usually vary depending on the dance. If the dance is close to Halloween activities could be carving pumpkins or going to a corn maze. Prom day activities are usually more elaborate like going to an escape room or paintballing.
However, schools from across the US do things a little differently. According to Seventeen’s article, “16 Weird Prom Traditions Across the Country”, some schools will have their students partying after prom until the wee hours of the morning. Others will pack up and leave for a “prom weekend.” Prom weekend can be anything from camping or renting out a house to stay with your group of friends for the weekend after prom.
Instead of having a weekend trip following a dance, Alta has a custom that after every dance students reunite with their group and hang out for a couple of hours after the dance. Most of the time the activity ends up being something more relaxing to rest from dancing all night, like watching a movie, playing games, or eating snacks.
It is evident that Alta’s most unique part of dances is the dance themes themselves. Within the last few years, some new dances have been added. Dances like the Red Rodeo are distinctive to Alta. Most students have welcomed these changes and enjoy the exciting new events.
“Red Rodeo is such a unique dance,” says Jane Allen.” I like the change of pace from the other dances, it makes it so memorable.”
The Red Rodeo Dance requires students to dress in Western wear and learn country dances taught by instructors. The lights stay on and the school is decorated with hay and western ornaments.
Although dances are a huge part of Alta student life, many teens complain about how expensive it is to fulfill all the dance customs. With 8 dances on Alta’s itinerary, students have found themselves facing high costs every month to attend dances.
“Even if you’re not the one asking someone to a dance,” Hannah Hassett says, ”it is still extremely expensive, but, I would like to say that most of my dances have been worth the money!”
Alta students face costs such as materials for posters, dresses, or tuxedos, day activity expenses, dance tickets, dinner, getting nails done, limos, and any after-activity costs. As high school students with minimum wage jobs, these charges can become a lot to afford.
School dances have been rites of passage for students and the heart of Alta tradition since the school was founded. Alta has many similarities and differences in its dances compared to the rest of the country and the world. These customs have evolved and been refined over the years; ultimately the dances are memorable and exciting events for students to look forward to.
