BROOKINGS — On the high school social scene across the United States, an annual event at this time of year brings the stuff of memories that may last a lifetime: the prom.
For Brookings High School juniors and seniors, the time and day are 6:30 p.m. Saturday; the place is the Dacotah Bank Center. Behind the gala that starts the evening — and will run into Sunday morning — is a lot of work by dedicated students and faculty.
“We started the planning back in December, picking a theme,” explained senior Amelia Wendell, who served on the planning committee. “This year our theme is based around (the movie) ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.’ That’s kind of going to be our soundtrack for the night.”
Come 6:30 Saturday evening, it all begins: The Grand March, free to all juniors and seniors, is open to the public for $5 a ticket, available at the door. And thanks to a generous community donation, all other prom events are free of charge to junior and senior participants.
For many of the students, especially the gents, the prom may be the first social occasion when some what-to-wear attention is required.
“I think it’s pretty common to go with the typical suit and tie,” Wendell said. “I think it’s pretty timeless and still what guys do today. But in Brookings, people got to Trendz. I think that’s a pretty big hot spot. (A spokesperson at Trendz, advised that they indeed have a complete line of men’s formal rental attire, in a variety of colors, for formal occasions, such as a prom.) A lot of guys like to buy a suit at the beginning of their high school career, because they can wear it for every school event. So it turns out to be a pretty good investment for them.”
What about flowers, e.g. a corsage? “For sure, it’s definitely another timeless trend that we still try to keep up with prom,” Wendell noted. “With the corsages, it’s a thing where a lot of girls do a full bouquet, not just the wrist corsage.”
For the girls, a hairdo is important: “A lot of the girls that I talked to have been doing it themselves or going to local salons,” she added.
Some couples will probably eat out before starting the evening festivities. “At the prom itself there will be snacks for all attendees,” Wendell noted. “I know a lot of the parents do a great job of providing tons of food for all kids that show up.”
Next on the agenda, at 8 p.m., is a hypnotist. And then comes what a prom is really about: the dance, which goes from 9 to 11 p.m. with music provided by a D.J. And following the dance there’s post-prom fun waiting, “at the Wellness Center immediately following the dance.
“Anyone who wants to go has to buy a ticket,” Wendell added. “I think it goes until 2 to 2:30 in the morning. They’ve tried to transform the Wellness Center to a neon glow-in-the-dark theme. We can use the gym, the rock wall, even the swimming pool that they have there. Our parents have also done a really good job of getting donations to make it more than just a big gym space.”
The prom: it’s here and it’s gone. But in the looking-backs of life, it’s there if you want to look back at it. And remember.
— Contact John Kubal at [email protected].
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