By Greg Chung ‘08 & Gilbert Tetteh ‘08 News Staff Reporter
On Saturday December 10th, the Hill House Dining Hall will be swarming with Choate students who are not there to fill their stomachs, but to fill the hearts of their beloved dates. With good conversation, eating, and dancing in fancy attire, Choate Rosemary Hall’s 21st Holiday Ball is shaping up to be one of the finest all-school events of the year. The Ball will be held in the evening from 8:45 PM to 11:30 PM and admission to the event will be $10.
The Committee of the Student Activity (COSA), headed by Mr. Jim Yanelli, runs the event. COSA members and student volunteers will be bustling around in the dining hall on the day of the event, decorating between lunch and dinner. At last year’s ball, which drew a crowd of over 600, the ambience was inspired by the Nutcracker. “We try to make each Holiday Ball different,” said Mr. Yanelli when asked about this year’s theme.
This year’s theme will be a color scheme, using various lighting and decorations to illuminate the setting. COSA said that it is aiming for a contemporary, vibrant look for this year’s event. As seen on campus notices for the dance, blue, green, and silver will be the primary colors in the decor.
Last year’s well-received chocolate fountain will be returning in light of its popularity among the student attendees. Students will have options from baked specialty cookies and other hors d’œuvres.
In the absence of a performance from an a capella group this year, Sound Spectrum Entertainment has been hired to perform a light show. As always, there will be a great DJ to keep students’ feet moving. However, DJ-ing will not begin before 9:15 as the first half hour of the event has been dubbed a reception phase, when students will be able to mingle and take pictures. The first dance dates back to 1984, inspired by then-SAC directors, Mr. Yanelli and Ms. Mary Pashley, as a way to enliven the holiday season in December. “[The Holiday Ball] comes at the time of the year when everybody is in a good mood. Everybody is in the holiday spirit and this atmosphere can’t be found in any other time of the year,” mentioned Mr. John Ford, Dean of Students.
As a tradition held since the first Holiday Ball, the moose head in the senior section of the dining hall will be decorated with mistletoe or a kissing ball on top. Dates might want to take an early pit stop here before long lines form underneath the furry beast. Other traditions include having Polaroid pictures taken by COSA members, but today the technology has now advanced to digital cameras. Unlike other formal dances such as the Last Hurrah, this dance is open to all forms and faculty, bringing the Choate community together. “This is one of the big all-school events; being inclusive of everyone is what makes this so special and fun for everyone,” commented Mr. Ford.
The ball is also an event the faculty can look forward to with excitement. The deans on duty are ever-present, and some faculty members are assigned to keep watch, but many others come to see the students or to socialize in the midst of the holiday atmosphere. Last year Mr. Shanahan’s appearance at the ball was no surprise to the students as he showed off a few moves on the dance floor himself.
According to sources from COSA, the funds from the ticket sales will yield no profit because of the costly expenditures. With an increase of $1500 in expenses from last year’s ball, this year’s total cost of the event, from the lighting, decoration, DJs, and various equipments sums up to $4000. “Our goal isn’t to generate income, it’s to have an event that’s available to as many people as possible,” said Mr. Yanelli.
