By Annette Aucamp & Anna-Carolina Knapp

This year’s prom took place on Saturday, April 27 at the Skirball Center. The Associated Student Body (ASB) seniors who planned the dance chose a theme that was extra special for seniors. Their first school dance would have been Homecoming in 2021 with the theme of “Tiana’s Place.” However, this theme was never brought to life as the dance was canceled as we had just returned from quarantine.

ASB chose the theme “Ball of the Bayou” to harken back to that missed dance opportunity.

“That was technically the first theme that we started with, so then we wondered, ‘What if we end it with that theme?’” senior and ASB member Natasha Haney said.

From there, Haney and her co-chair Summer Bernardino took the original homecoming theme from their sophomore year, “Tiana’s Place,” and transformed it into “Ball of the Bayou.”

Characterized by expansive greenery and soft lighting, the Skirball Center’s atmosphere and landscaping allowed ASB to perfectly capture and bring this theme to life.

“The venue for prom was so nice and well-spaced,” senior Lily Gonzalez said. “There were two rooms, one for dancing and one for eating. The lights lit up areas at night and the greenery made everything feel very romantic.”

As the final dance of high school, prom brings a multitude of emotions and memories to the surface.

From long-lasting friendships and close-knit groups to new experiences and life lessons, prom is a reminder that high school acts as a transformative phase in one’s life.

“Prom marked the end of high school for me and made me realize that I will never have something like this again,” senior Eleni Barzu said. Prom allowed seniors to make lasting
memories with peers that they have spent the last four years growing and learning with, some of which might be their last.

Prom, for me, was a great way to wrap everything up. It was really great to see everyone dressed up and in their suits, and it was a cool way to have fun with your friends one last time.

– senior Felipe Knight

The theme of transformation inspired by Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog” is very timely as prom marks the bittersweet beginning of a new chapter for the graduating class of 2024.