Winter Ball is a longstanding tradition at ELHS, but it’s no secret that dance attendance has been on the decline in the past few years. With fewer people attending dances, and costs beginning to outweigh profits, class senates have begun to ask if it’s worth it to continue to run Winter Ball in future years.
Winter Ball is put together and run by the junior class senate each year. According to junior class senate advisor Aaron Maddux, “Dances at this school used to see nearly eight hundred attendees support the class and come to have fun… Classes had been able to raise thousands of dollars which would go towards amazing proms and exciting senior trips. With fewer people attending, less money is going towards the classes.”
With few people in attendance, Winter Ball has shifted from being a huge fundraising opportunity to an event that potentially costs the class senate money.
“There is no set number of students needed, but the cost of hosting these dances is something we cannot ignore. From paying for the DJ and security, to a possible concession stand and teacher chaperones, it adds up quickly… In the past, if only 10 students came, we would make $100, but now, with all the upfront costs, we would lose hundreds more,” Mr. Maddux said.
If dances used to attract most of the student body, why are students no longer interested in attending?
“I think there is just a general decrease in interest in going to dances. I don’t think there’s one single factor, people just stopped enjoying going,” junior class treasurer Lila Aram said.
Senior Lily Gibson went to Winter Ball last year. “I think getting ready with your friends and taking pictures is a lot of fun, but the actual dance feels kind of repetitive and most people end up leaving early,” Gibson said.
This year, the junior senate made a conscious effort to attract more students in hopes of making a solid profit.
“We decided to make raffles of baskets, senior parking spots, and half off prom tickets. We are also planning a photo wall backdrop and Valentine’s Day decorations,” Aram said.
The full senate has been working hard to ensure dances will continue in the future.
“We’re constantly asking what students would like to see, so we can incorporate those ideas into our planning,” Mr. Maddux said.
This year, the Winter Ball did sell enough tickets in order to run, however, the ticket sales barely broke even with the costs of running the dance, and the Class of 2026 senate made less than $200 profit from the event.
As for the future of Winter Ball and other dances at ELHS, the future is uncertain.
“I am honestly not sure whether these dances will continue, but I can understand why that’s a concern. I don’t think they’ll disappear completely, but it’s possible we may need to shift away from relying on them as our sole source of fundraising. It’s going to be a challenge since dances were easier to organize and raised so much money,” Mr. Maddux said.
ELHS ALUMNI: What was Winter Ball like over the years?
Mr. Mahon: Class of 1981
“Winter Ball was actually a dress up event, like in long dresses. It was a pretty big deal. There’s a picture of me somewhere wearing a three piece suit. And I’m pretty sure there was a live band, no DJ’s.”
Ms. O’Reilly: Class of 2005
“It was an event. Prom was definitely the biggest, but everyone went to Winter Ball. I remember I was at soccer one time and I wasn’t going and all the girls on my team convinced me to go. They were so surprised that I wasn’t going to. I remember ‘Stairway to Heaven’ was always the last song played, and it was a huge debate over whether it was a slow song or not.”
Ms. Lattanzi: Class of 2015
“I feel like, not quite, but winter ball was almost on the same level as prom. Like, if you went here, you were going to Winter Ball. More people went than didn’t go. We all got together and got ready and we’d take pictures. It was a popular thing. I think my freshman year there was a theme, but not after that.”
