Colorful lights flashed across the Nicholas Athletic Center (NAC) as music pulsed from the DJ booth and the scent of cookies, candy and pizza floated through the air. Sophomores in sleek dresses and pressed shirts streamed through the doors, each handed a sparkling mask that matched the night’s theme: masquerade. The NAC had been transformed – streamers draped over the walls, tables glowed with strings of lights and students crowded a photobooth framed by glitter and velvet.

 “Last year, the sophomores had their first dance in a long time,” Whitney Pecoraro ’27, a member of the Sophomore Dance Committee, said. “I think it’s great to get everyone together and have fun.” This year, members of the student-led committee organized another sophomore dance May 17.

 Whitney said the committee settled on a masquerade theme after considering a few options.

 “Masquerade is a nice theme where it’s not too strict about dress code, but there are also good decorations. There’s a clear vibe, but everyone can do whatever they want and dress however they want.”

 Fundraising for the event involved a March Madness-style bake-off competition led by then-Vice President Diya Gandhi ’27.

 “I think it was a really good idea because you incentivize people to bake treats and vote for what they like better,” Whitney said. “Everyone gets a chance to be part of the bake-off and have fun.”

 Elsbeth Kasparian ’27, another committee member, said the dance helped unite the sophomore class.

 “It’s a great way for the sophomores to bond because there’s a lot of junior and senior stuff, and toward the end of the year, we’re starting to branch into the upper grades a little bit more,” she said. “So, it’s nice that we get to have a fun tradition ourselves.”   

 The sophomore dance showed students want a say in planning events.

 “It seems as if some of the students, at least listening to the representative speeches for this year, wanted more involvement with students picking the sophomore dance committee,” she said. “So, maybe in the future, students could look into having a broader community or opening up the idea of what themes and food people want to the general class.”

 Aiko Bertram ’27 said she wished students had more input on selecting the dance’s theme.

 “One thing that we could’ve done differently is make a Google Form to make sure the majority of the grade liked the theme.”

 Aiko ultimately appreciated having the dance.

 “The dance … had a lot of food for everyone and provided these nice-looking masks. The DJ was also great.” 

 Adi Bhatia ’27 also attended the sophomore dance.

 “It is something that should definitely be continued. It was a fun event, and it was well organized.”

 Adi had mixed feelings about the theme.

 “The theme wasn’t a big part of the event, and it was pretty flexible.”

 Riley Meek ’27 enjoyed the dance.

 “I thought the theme was good,” she said. “A lot of people didn’t like it, but I don’t think it made much of a difference.”