Happy New Year, Titans! Brr, is it cold in here? This season is a cold one, with temperatures as low as 40 degrees and frost already forming on our sidewalks. However, despite these wintery conditions, Union presents many winter activities for its student population! We just had Winter Wishes and Spirit Week back in December, and all of the commons are now decorated thanks to our Student Council, but most importantly, the Winter Formal has finally arrived!
The Winter Formal is a yearly occurrence during winter where everybody is invited to a winter-themed party set in our very own Union High School. This year’s options were narrowed down by our Student Council to Northern Lights, Swan Lake, and La La Land. “I voted for Northern Lights, but I really like Swan Lake as a second option. I think it’s so elegant, and pretty,” says Nehalem Stocker. Many other students voted similarly, with mixed votes between the three themes. After much deliberation, however, it has been decided that this year’s Winter Formal theme is… Swan Lake!
For context, Swan Lake is a ballet written by Tchaikovsky in 1871 for his young nieces and nephews. Originally Swan Lake debuted in Moscow – and was actually considered a failure. The audience didn’t like how it conveyed heavy tragedy and emotion, just like other classic love stories like Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, or James Cameron’s Titanic. With a little bit of reworking, however, the ballet started being shown in other parts of Europe and the USA, and eventually, its existence spread across the world into what we know today.
Summarized by the San Francisco Ballet, the story follows Princess Odette, who is walking alongside a lake when she encounters Von Rothbart, who curses her to turn into a swan during the day, and a girl during the night. Enter Prince Siegfred, stuck in an arranged marriage. He finds Odette while he’s hunting. Despite her curse, they fall in love, and their true love breaks her curse, despite some challenges along the way, especially with the Black Swan, Odile.
However, it should be noted that the dance is less than a month away! What should you do? What should you wear? When asked about the final decision of Swan Lake, here is what Jessica Webb said. “I was happy that Swan Lake won, it was the one I voted for.” Nehalem and her friend Mackenzie Brown also had the same reaction to the news. “I really like that theme!” Exclaims Nehalem. Mackenzie added, “It’ll match with the dress I already have. I personally think it’ll be easy to style because it uses lighter colors. Especially with feathers!”
Just like what she said, you could base an outfit on the two main swans, Odette and Odile, you could wear a few feathery accessories, or incorporate soft textures into a dress or suit to simulate that of a swan. Wear something “graceful”, or “elegant” just like the dancers in the ballet. You could wear something sweet or pure, like Princess Odette, with her feathers and gracefulness shown throughout the play. On the contrary, something sharp and mysterious could symbolize Odile, as she appears cunning and almost like a shadow, or like a silhouette. You could also swap it around, and have something inspired by Prince Siegfried and his royal court that ignites grace and nobility. A ball gown or a nice suit and tie would be perfect for this theme! Everything is up to you, of course.
Of course, you don’t have to have something inspired by Swan Lake. You could come up with something enchanting and polished, or go in something comfortable and cozy. Just make sure you have fun, although dressing up and showing off your outfits is just a positive bonus to having an exciting night out with friends!
Presale tickets go on sale from January 13th to January 30th, which is $15 for students with ASB and $20 for students without ASB. Tickets can be bought online through Evergreen Payments or the ASB office. Presale tickets end on Thursday, January 30th after lunch.
On February 1st, tickets at the door will be open for sale at 8 PM for $20 with either cash or card, but there is no ASB discount. Students who buy their tickets by January 1st can enter the Winter Formal at 7:30 PM, but students who buy their tickets at the door will be able to enter at 8 PM.
To invite a student outside of Union, go to the ASB office to grab a guest pass. Students with guests must buy their tickets at the ASB office. Guest passes must be turned in before January 30th.
What do you think about this year’s theme? Leave a comment below!