Queen of Hearts 2009

About 3 weeks ago (I know, I'm behind) Clark and I got to be chaperones at my school's biggest dance of the year, Queen of Hearts. This is a production that really goes beyond any of my high school dances. Prom was a pretty big deal at my school, but it still doesn't quite compare. At Broughton they have a full court with escorts, a Maid of Honor, and a Queen of Hearts. And the Queen wears a wedding dress. Anyway, the kids get all sorts of excited about it and there is a huge assembly the day before with lots of talents and skits.
Some things just don't change much at high school dances. Like the awkwardness of being one of the first twenty people there and no one dares go out on the dance floor. There are girls excited to show off their fancy dresses to their friends. And there are the awkward couples that aren't sure about being on a date or being with their date--one of the two. It was pretty fun to make the rounds and see my students dressed up and excited and out of the classroom.
So, some things, it turns out, ARE a little different than I remember them. There were always a select few at a dance involved in "dirty dancing" but it was never like I saw it this night. My favorite was trying to always maintain the "I'm not shocked or horrified or violated by any of this" expression. I had to tell Clark a few times to "Stop making that face!" It was hard not to let your jaw drop and your eyes get wide as you saw a mass of young teens involved in some serious bumping and grinding! I think I prefer to think of my students as only students. I'd rather not think too much about their "extracurricular" activities...
On a more positive note, you have to give the kids props for their serious work putting together the decorations. This year's theme was Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I took a few pics before the lights went off to give you and idea of the decor. Also, it was really fun to see all the talents shown at the assembly the day before.

Here we are as official chaperones, name tags and all! Our duties pretty much entailed roaming, making sure kids weren't too out of control, and making sure kids didn't get on the stage where the live band was playing.
Here is where the Queen of Hearts Court sat during the assembly.
This is my chilean colleague, Rosa and her daughter in front of the candy wall, chocolate river, and boat.

Editor's (Clark's) note: Amy gave you the G-rated version, so allow me to upgrade you to at least a PG version of the dance. It was crazy. In Utah when kids would participate in "freak dancing" as the young ones used to call it, you would see some dancing that just wasn't appropriate for public display, or private display at that time in their collective lives. But the kids in Utah never could commit fully to this type of lewd dancing. Either it was not socially acceptable, or else kids' consciences got the best of them. Well you can throw all of that out of the window at Broughton High School. These kids were being dirty. Let's just put it that way. I think Amy's comment at the end of the night sums it up nicely: "I wouldn't do most of that dancing with my own husband." So...yeah. But the most shocking thing to me was this. EVERYONE was dancing this way, not just the cool kids. Even, and pardon my perpetuation of high school stereotypes, the band geeks and drama dweebs were dancing this way with their dates. You know the kid in high school who can grow a full beard and so he does. But he doesn't shower or bathe and he watches the Lord of the Rings trilogy EVERY week and plays the pan flute in his backyard? You know the guy I am talking about. Well he was at the dance too. And he was dancing way too intimately with his equally unhygenic and earthen date. It made me sick to my stomach sometimes. So while I won't deny the fact that I was making some faces of disbelief, I will only tell you that it was totally justified. And for you future parents of high schoolers, do whatever is in your power to get your kids to not go to date dances. A fancy dinner, a video game system, maybe even a car. Do whatever it takes, cuz it is only going to get worse.

Editor's (Amy's note): I think my husband is being just a tiny bit dramatic and overprotective of your kids. There were at least a few kids not participating in the freaking fest.

Editor's (Clark's Note): No I am not and yes so, every kid was dancing that way.