From The Blue Jay, Vol. 86, No. 2, November 2013

By pre-freshman Alex Thomas, The Blue Jay Staff Writer

Hawaiian shirts and leis were the look of the night as Blue Jays kicked off the school year with a luau theme for the annual Back-to-School Dance, one of the most successful in recent memory.

There’s no better way to kick off the school year than blasting some music, enjoying some ice-cold snowballs, and a lot of dancing.

This year’s Back-to-School Dance took on a Hawaiian flair with a luau theme, turning the Traditions Courtyard into a tropical paradise. The luau theme inspired many to don grass skirts, coconut bras, and leis as they danced the night away.

The dance, which was held on Sept. 7, was beautifully decorated. The flashing lights keeping the energy high and the music drew participants to their feet to dance.

Ice-cold snowballs served as refreshments and, of course, the dance provided tons of opportunities to reunite with old friends and hang out with new ones.

“Everyone is just having a lot of fun, said pre-freshmen Christian Butler. “It’s just a great opportunity to grab some friends and hang out.”

Kristen Tholen, a student of Dominican High School, said, “I basically went because it was a social event, which I enjoy, and I like to go and have fun at dances.”

Tholen said she found the theme original and fun, and brought several friends with her to the dance.

Overall, the dance served as an informal, fun and lively event for both Blue Jays and the guests from the various girl’s high schools throughout the New Orleans area. The turnout was among the highest seen in recent years.