With the holidays approaching, clubs and organizations all around campus are coming together to bring the Ramapo community closer through the spirit of the winter season.
With hot chocolate nights in residence halls, Christmas and Hanukkah parties by religious-centered clubs, and winter semi-formal dances hosted by Dumbledore’s Army and the College Programming Board (CPB), the Ramapo community is hoping to bring the holiday spirit before finals at the end of the semester.
On Friday, Dumbledore’s Army along with Disney Club, RCTV, WRPR, Midnight Book Club, A Moment of Magic, Hillel and many more cosponsors hosted their annual Yule Ball dance. This gave students an opportunity to engage in a semi-formal dance themed after the ball in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.”
“The Yule Ball is becoming a tradition for the club to host a large party for our club members and similar clubs to dress up and have fun,” Vice President of Dumbledore’s Army Giana Comisi said. “We started the idea because a ball like this was in the ‘Harry Potter’ books, but it expanded into being like a fun prom-like event that we could run.”
A total of 67 students gathered in Trustees Pavilion amidst the downpour of rain, where they were welcomed by small yule-like table centerpieces, a Dobby cutout, blue decorations covering the space and a dance floor.
The night was full of music, dancing, themed holiday activities such as tree-decorating, ornament-making and snowflake-making, prizes, and food that made the night special. Attendees were given raffle tickets for every activity that they participated in.
The event captured the essence of a typical dance combined with the nostalgia and entertainment of a theme based on a childhood favorite book series, such as “Harry Potter.” What set it apart from other dances was the fashion show that all attendees were able to take part in. With judges looking for style, uniqueness and ability to walk with precision, students took to the dance floor to show off their fashion and skills.
The winter celebrations continued with the CPB who hosted their annual Snowball: A Winter Homecoming on Saturday, giving students another opportunity to experience a holiday semi-formal night of dancing and engaging with their community.
Students gathered in a winter-wonderland-themed Friends Hall, where they were welcomed by a balloon arc photo booth, table full of prizes, food and a dark blue lighting. The hall was decked out with decorations, giving students the opportunity to capture the perfect photos.
With music from old childhood favorites and even newer ones, the dance floor was filled with participants dancing and having the time of their lives. Many used the dance floor to the full extent, testing out their dance moves and letting loose after a long week of classes.
However, no dance is complete without prizes and food. Students were given two tickets after paying the entrance fee of $5 for Ramapo students and $10 for non-Ramapo students. Prizes included a hot chocolate bomb maker, Squishmallow ornaments, a large hot chocolate Smashmallow and a holiday-themed basket.
All proceeds of the event were donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. CPB ended up donating $161 at the end of the night.
“Doing Snowball every year means a lot to our organization,” CPB President Janelle Boamah said. “It is not only our way of starting off the holiday season but a way for the Ramapo students to get all dressed up and dance the night away.”
rbleich@ramapo.edu
Featured photo by Rebecca Bleich
