Dolly Parton, the Notorious B.I.G. and Rihanna. Three familiar names in the music industry, each with their own hit songs in various decades, like the 60s, 90s, and 2000s. These striking figures, along with other generational celebrities, have recently made several appearances throughout the classrooms of Hayes. But why?
On Feb. 28, with the help of Hayes Cinematics and the Student Council, the fourth annual Dance Through the Decades will be thrown for all grade levels.
The dance will be held in the auxiliary gym from 8-10 p.m. and is going to be filled with dancing, games, karaoke, popcorn, drinks from Tom’s Coffee, and decades of music played by DJ Yungmeat.
The idea behind Dance Through the Decades came from the Hayes Cinematics class back in 2020 under advisor Thomas Hering. Students in the class were motivated to challenge the idea of the average winter formal and advocated for something more unique.
“It’s not the traditional winter formal,” Hering said. “We wanted it to feel old school, like an 80s dance with streamers, balloons, and a disco ball.”
Students attending the throwback-themed-inspired dance are encouraged to wear whatever they desire, like dressing within the style of a specific decade.
“Some [students] just get absolutely ridiculous,” Hering said. “We had one couple two years ago dressed as the 1680s, and they came as pilgrims.”
With the variety of decade-like outfits, the music follows the same orientation as well. This year, the dance is promoting a decade’s mash by DJ Yungmeat, Hayes Cinematics member and host of “Talisman Tunes,” Kaleb Kapp.
“[With the music] we are starting with the 60s and going to the present,” Kapp said. “I got an hour of 60s to 90s and then another hour of modern music, so it’s pretty evened out.”
Alongside a larger emphasis on modern-day music, Hayes Cinematics is advertising the dance in tactics that will have a greater appeal to the student body.
Hayes Cinematics member Micah Giorgi said the group has taken steps to build an Instagram presence to help publicize the dance.
“Obviously, a lot of students are on Instagram,” Giorgi said. “Kids are reposting [what we post] to get the word out faster.”
So far, the account has posted infographic posters, a countdown to the dance and outfit ideas. Cinematics members have plans to create short advertisement videos as well.
“Students advertising to students is what we want to do,” Giorgi said. “So [we are having] more comedic, more relevant [advertisements] to make it more directed towards students.”
Flyers for the dance, along with celebrity cardboard cutouts scattered around the school, are used to spark anticipation and interest in the event also, specifically towards underclassmen.
At Hayes, underclassmen only have the annual homecoming dance hosted in the fall. After that, not many events are held for the two grade levels to attend.
“I think that freshmen and sophomores don’t get enough chances to have fun and have these kinds of cool events,” Giorgi said.
Dance Through the Decades provides underclassmen a chance to have fun with their friends and meet new people, including upperclassmen.
Tickets for the dance are being sold through Payschools as well as in person by Hering the week of Feb. 28, before and after school in the cafeteria.
All in all, the Dance Through the Decades provides the student body with an evening to look forward to in the midst of winter to celebrate the evolution of music.
“Get your friends and come to the dance, because this is making high school memories,” Hering said.
