By Rosie E.
Family Foundation School students danced away 2008 and welcomed 2009 with outstretched hands at the New Year’s Eve dance.
The students walked into the gymnasium-turned-dancehall at 9 p.m. and kicked off the dance. The music featured artists from Madonna to Chris Brown, and the students took full advantage of the opportunity to groove.
The theme of the dance was black and white; students showed up sporting both of the colors in some way. To be admitted, each of the families had to create five stars, at least 18 inches in length, and somehow make them black, white, or silver. Students put their creative minds together and figured ways to make their stars shine. When it was all put together, the dance looked much like a disco.
Multicolored flashing lights danced across the walls, and a digital banner of light read: “Happy New Year!” A smoke machine periodically released smoke-like gas into the air which made the rainbow rays look as though they were suspended in the smoke.
When slow songs played, students had the opportunity to have boy-girl slow dances. The object of this exercise was to show boys and girls how to relate and have fun with each other without inappropriate or disrespectful behavior. “It’s cool being able to dance with a guy without having to worry about common teenage concerns, like, “how do I look?” and “does he like me?” said one FFS senior.
FFS students saw how to eliminate the dangers of their alternative lifestyles without losing the fun and excitement. “The fundamental essence of the family is comfort, so what a more comfortable way to spend the New Year than with my family, dancing!” said Ted W., a Family Two student.
To some, spending the New Year at The Family Foundation School was a refreshing experience. Sarah W., an FFS senior, said, “It was very different. I’ll always remember the 2009 New Year’s Dance because for the first time in a long time I started the year on the right foot.”
In the last ten seconds of 2008, the students circled under the ceiling canopy and reached up their hands. “Five…four…three…two…one,” they called, as balloons fell from the ceiling and party whistles blew.
Then Father Stephen got on the microphone and blessed everyone’s year. The school listened to a Gaelic version of “Silent Night” by Enya over the speakers, which changed the mood from excited to tranquil. The students happily went to bed, exhausted by all the celebration.
