This year, the class of 2019 hosted the annual Mistletoe Dance. On the night of January 4th, well over one-hundred Dunellen High School students danced the night away and ate to their heart's content. Held at Forest Lodge in Warren New Jersey, the winter formal was the perfect opportunity for them to show off all of their hard work in getting ready for the party. Over the course of four years, the graduating class has been raising money for this party as well as DHS’s Prom, which is held in June each year.
Each Mistletoe Dance has four categories that participants can win. These would be the Mistletoe King, Queen, Prince, and Princess; all of them seniors. This year, the winners were announced about an hour before the end of the dance. The Prince and Princess were announced first, which turned out to be Andrew Barnett and Devin Mauriello. The King and Queen for the night were Fernando Hernandez and Anahi Viteri. Each royal was given a regal crown atop the head and a sash across the torso. While there was an option for the respective pairs to dance together after the announcement, they all eventually ended up with someone special to them.
Set up by the senior class’s student council, this year’s winter dance featured a few nice attractions. Upon entering the plaza, one was met with a photo section that saw the faces of most of the students present. It held a photo booth, backdrop, and a few dress-up items to make the pictures unique. Outside, a picturesque gazebo and a fireplace provided students with the opportunity to take stunning photos. The DJ for the evening was a hit as well. When asked what she thought of him, junior Olivia Newland responded, “I feel that he was very energetic. He had a lot of spirit, and he could connect with the students.”
All of the tables held a pitcher of water, but there was also a drink bar across the food that held different soft-drinks and glasses. For dinner, party-goers were given the choices of chicken breasts, steak, penne pasta, potatoes, and tortellini alfredo. As a side, salad and loaves bread and butter were put out. For dessert, chocolate and vanilla ice cream were provided, along with a few toppings. For those who wanted a nice, warm drink, a coffee bar was set up next to the cold desserts.
The dance cost $70 for seniors to attend, and five dollars more for everyone else. But was it really worth that much money? When Ms. Newland was asked that same question, she responded, “It was a lot of money, and it was worth it to some extent, but I felt that if it were a bit cheaper, then that would be easier to say.” And she wasn’t the only one who felt that way. And even though senior Jennifer Castro had a good time, she still stated, “No! I really could be doing something better with my time.” But even though students resented the prices, the night was still a smash hit, filled with dancing, cheering, and singing till the very end.