Dancing With the Stars

Last night Christi and I escorted Cayla to her first Epiphany Ball. It was Christi's and my first as well. Definitely an evening to remember!

It was nothing like any school dance I've ever been to or even heard of. The school dances I remember were awkward... esp. in middle school! The boys usually stood around afraid to ask the girls to dance (mostly out of fear of rejection). Therefore, the girls stood around all night waiting for somebody to ask them. Part of the reason for this is because nobody really knew how to dance and if they did, they were too embarrassed to step out on the dance floor. Nobody wants to be the first or only one on the dance floor... except for someone like June, of course! ;)

There's so much to tell, but let me try to summarize the event...

When we first arrived, Cayla's friends ran up to greet her with excitement.

We all had a little bite to eat and then once the music started, Cayla and her friends danced the entire time! She danced with so many boys, she lost count. But let me clarify... the reason she lost count is because everybody danced with everybody. Nobody was left out! Everybody danced! Students, teachers, parents... even the principal and his wife!




After school for the past week, the teachers and high schoolers taught the younger teens the most popular ballroom dances. I've never heard of the Virginia Reel before last night. Apparently, it's a very old and popular group dance... even more popular than the Electric Slide or Macarena!

To break the ice at the beginning, one of the teachers kicked off the dance with the rules/guidelines. I thought to myself... Rules? What the heck? Then the movie Grease came to mind. But these rules were even different from those.

All of the boys were given a blue card with four girls' names on it. The girls were given a blue card with the matching boys' names (which they tied to their wrists). The boys were required to approach the girls and politely ask them to dance. The girls were required to politely accept. Nobody was allowed to leave the room or hide in the bathroom. Believe me, some of the boys tried, but were headed off by the teachers. Since everybody was taught the basic dance steps, that excuse no longer applied.

My first thought was that this was ridiculous (because I never experienced anything like it). After seeing it in action, I think it was actually brilliant. With the "rules" in place, it broke the ice and everyone danced and it felt like one great big family... the Holy Spirit was palpable! There were no "cliques" or "pairing up" as is usually expected at teen events. But, it didn't happen here, precisely because they give these kids so much respect and expect the same in return. As a matter of fact, the younger teen boys (13-14 yr. olds) were asking junior and senior girls to dance... and they graciously accepted. The junior and senior boys were also asking the younger girls to dance as well. It was very much like a large family at a wedding reception.




There were mothers and sons dancing. Fathers and daughters were dancing ;)



And even mothers and fathers dancing (sorry, no pics... the photographers were dancing ;)

At the end of the evening, one of the teachers announced, "Alright, as is always fitting of a Christian event, we start and end everything with prayer. Will you all please join me in singing the "Ave Maria Stella." And right where they were, dance floor and all, the whole room stopped and the students and teachers began to sing, in latin. It was absolutely beautiful! Here's the song we sang (latin version on top and english translation below)...


We are so blessed to have a school like Holy Family Academy that fully embraces and truly celebrates our rich Catholic culture.

I have to admit, the older high school kids were so impressive at dancing, they have inspired Christi and I to take ballroom dance lessons. So we'll be ready for the next dance!