High school dances are a long-lasting tradition, and in the wake of these events comes the awkward question of dates. Oftentimes, the pressure to find a date lies with the boy, however Sadie Hawkins dances allow the ladies to get themselves a partner.

The amount of dances our school puts on is increasing each year, starting with the homecoming dance that was in the fall. The newest dance will be a Sadie Hawkins dance in February. This dance will feature Valentine’s Day decorations, and a new concept: the girls will ask the boys. Student Council is excited to put this dance together, and is hoping that it will add some much needed pizzaz to Blast Week.

A major rationale for the Sadie Hawkins dance deals with Blast Week. Blast Week stands for Be Loving And Share Together, and that is exactly Student Council’s goal behind this Valentine’s themed dance. Student Council wants to unify the school’s clubs and organizations and they believe a positive event like a dance will help spread excitement at the end of Blast Week.

Senior Student Council member Andy Bjerk said, We just wanted to have a dance at the end of Blast Week to celebrate it, and to have a finale.”

The dance will feature red, white and pink decorations and will be held Feb. 13, the day before Valentine’s Day. There will be a king and queen of hearts crowned at the dance, with voting and nominations likely occurring in the week leading up to the dance.

Student Council Junior Officer Julia Eisenberg said, “Like Snowball, we will have a kind and queen of hearts, but it will be open to everyone, so a sophomore girl could get it and a senior boy could get it.”

The Sadie Hawkins dance will challenge traditional roles by enabling the girls to ask the boys to the dance. This allows for some pressure to be taken off of the boys, and for the girls to get a chance to take charge and do the hard work.

Eisenberg said, “A boy doesn’t have to ask a girl, it doesn’t have to be that way and that’s why I wanted to do a Sadie Hawkins so bad because I wanted to just take that norm away.”

Student Council members want all students who are on the fence about going to the dance to know that bringing a date is not necessary. The idea behind a Sadie Hawkins dance was that it would be a fun switch in average dance etiquette, however a date is not required to come and have fun.

Junior Student Council member Grace Sobiech said, “If a girl wants to ask a guy, they can and couples seem to like that but you can just go with friends if you want to.”

Overall, the goal of the dance is to inspire some excitement during February, entice unity throughout the school and add a different experience for students. The hope is that many people come, enjoy the Saturday with or without a date and be a part of the Blast Week finale.

Bjerk said, “I think a lot of people will be really excited about a Sadie Hawkins just because it’s something different and I haven’t heard about Stillwater having one.”