Appendix B

A VEGAS TWIST
 

Flashing lights, playing cards, beautiful dresses and grand entrances, no, it is not a scene from a Ocean’s Eleven movie, but the Westville Girls’ High School Grade 12 class of 2011’s Grade 12 dance. On Friday the 25th of March the much talked about and closely guarded secret theme of the Grade 12 dance was revealed: Vegas! The theme aptly embodied the spirit of the Grade 12 dance for where else but Vegas does the world never sleep nor the music never lull?

The dance held at the ICC was well organised and beautifully decorated. The stage was accompanied by a backdrop that read in large letters ‘Casino’ and that conjured images of Elvis and black and red chips on a card table. The entrances to the dance were nearly as elaborate as the decorations with girls arriving in vintage cars, motorbikes, limousines and even a group arriving in a caravan! These arrivals were met by much cheering and the crowd that had gathered to catch a glimpse of the girls before they entered the venue definitely approved of the extraordinary arrivals.

Once greeted by Ms. Johnstone, other teachers and the Governing Body the girls walked the red carpet accompanied by camera flashes and then entered the venue to enjoy their night. During the night the attendees of the dance were addressed by Kendra Karagornas, head of RCL, and other speakers and were later entertained by the awarding of the ‘unofficial awards’. These awards are given to girls by their peers and are light hearted fun. After a three course meal the party began with music playing well into the night and the girls were able to kick off their high heels and dance.

Standing as an outsider and looking on one could almost touch the excitement radiating off the girls and if an event could have a theme song it would have been a mixture of Cindy Lauper’s ‘Girls just wanna have fun’ and Katy Perry’s ‘Firework.’ The Grade 12 dance is a hallmark; it signifies the end of a part of one’s life and the beginning of another. The girls treasure the memories and many years after their dance they still return to look at the photographs. This year’s Grade 12 dance was enjoyed by all and will no doubt be remembered as a night of happiness and friendship. Even when the students of the Grade 12 class of 2011 split and go their separate ways, they will have these memories to look back on and cherish.

A special mention must be made to Mrs. Swart and the incredible Grade 12 Dance Committee and other helping teachers. They guarded the theme with their lives and ensured that the dance ran smoothly. They sacrificed time and energy during a busy term to ensure that the Grade 12 dance was the success it turned out to be. They did an amazing job and that the dance looked as though they had travelled to Nevada and cut a piece out of the city that never sleeps and brought it back to South Africa, is a testimony to their creativity and hard work.

It was ‘one night only’ and what a night it was.