Isla Bonita School Dance...

Watch out, San Pedro! The students here are looking mighty fine at their school dance. A group of the UNCW interns at the school decided that we wanted to organize a school dance as one of our community service events. Our school hadn't hosted a dance in a few years, so we figured it would be the perfect way to get students hyped up and off the streets! ;) 

Although we told the school that we would take care of the planning, announcements, decorating, etc., Isla Bonita really helped us out in pulling the entire event off.  During breaks and free time, a few students volunteered to make posters to hang around the school prior to the event. The principal announced the dance multiple times at morning assembly as well as sent a note home with the students. The staff volunteered to grill hotdogs and provide sodas for sale (as well as a few adult beverages...very different from America). One of the local, talented DJ even volunteered her speakers and equipment as well as her time!

The school let out an hour early the day of the dance so that the teachers could prepare and decorate the school. However, majority of the students volunteered  to stay after and help hang balloons, lights, streamers, and chalk the sidewalk. The students were so proud of themselves and the school looked beautiful! 

The dance was SO similar to what you would find in America. The middle school students were dressed up: the girls running around gossiping while the boys stood in the corner up to no good and embarrassed by us teachers. The younger students hung out at the DJ booth requesting song after song. Some students would go out to the dance floor and kill it; others had to be dragged out to dance by their teachers and friends. 

By the end of the night, we had the entire crew doing Cupid's Shuffle, Cha Cha Slide, dance tunnels, and conga lines. It warmed my heart to see so many smiles, hear endless laughter, and watch funny little dancers. The school dance was one of my favorite nights so far, but also had a bittersweet vibe as I realized that my time attending dances are over. Now I move forward into the next chapter of my life: chaperoning school dances and wishing I was the one being embarrassed by my teachers instead of doing the embarrassing...