On Saturday, January 25th, Community Council will transform the Performing Arts Center from a regular auditorium into a winter wonderland filled with snowflakes and blue lighting. Community Council has planned an event that’s never been done before at Hackley: the semi-formal.

On this day, from 7:30-10:00pm, girls will be expected to wear cocktail dresses, and guys are expected to wear a coat and tie. This hopefully “encourages students to attend, and gets people excited for something completely new for most kids,” said Junior Class President Cate Goldsmith.

Students are aware, school dances or formals other than prom are not a tradition at Hackley. In the past Hackley has in fact hosted informal dances, but due to the lack of appeal from students in previous years, Community Council has opted out of organizing them. But this year, as seen in student polls, enthusiasm for a semi-formal has risen, and community council is working endlessly on every last detail.

Upper School director Andy King said, “It is not something the administration has decided on. It really depends on student buy-in, and student enthusiasm. If its there, it will be a great success.”

Community Council has decided to declare this semi-formal a Sadie-Hawkins dance (girls-ask-guys). Although this is not a requirement, it is highly encouraged. This concept is new to Hackley students, and has raised a difference of opinions. Junior Amanda Flock said, “I’m not a huge fan of the recommended girls-ask-guys.” Many girls are sympathetic to Amanda’s thought, such as sophomore Alexandra Gluckman who said, “It complicates the process and makes it hard on girls.” While it is a tradition for boys to ask girls to dances, sophomore Will Pundyk has a different view and said, “It’s a fun new twist on an old classic.”

The Sadie Hawkins factor of the dance has created a large negative response because people assume that in order to attend, a person must go with another person. “I think that it adds a layer of unnecessary anxiety to students,” said Mr. King. “My understanding of a dance is for it to be as inclusive as possible, so by adding these rules you make it potentially less inviting to people.”

School President Senior Damis Yancopoulos said that he has very high expectations and said, “[The dance] is going to be epic.” Damis also commented on the girls-ask-guys aspect and said, “It causes people to go outside their comfort zone, and talk to people they normally wouldn’t talk to, creating new friendships!”

Sophomore Elana Stern said, “Council has been successful in planning every other event so far this year, and I really don’t think the semi-formal will be the exception.”

Cate added, “I think the idea of a semi-formal is great, and something Hackley really needed because other than the Senior/Junior prom, there are no school dances.” Freshman Connor Wilke agrees with Cate, and said, “It’s cool that community council has planned this event for us.”

Sophomore President George Wangensteen said, “Community Council has been working really hard to put together a great night, and to get everyone motivated to go.”

Council has worked increasingly harder than ever this year to encourage students to attend school organized activities such as sports games, the freshman and sophomore manhunt, and the bonfire at Fall Sting. Sophomore class agent Ally Petitti agrees with George and said, “It’s important that our community participates in these activities because council works for hours trying to make it fun for everyone.”

As the dance requires an extraordinary amount of planning and organizing, Community Council knows they have a lot to accomplish. “Damis is a great leader, along with Mike Leonard, Cate Goldsmith, and George Wangensteen who are constantly consulting with me,” said Mr. King. “If student enthusiasm is there, I am confident this will be a great success.”