My Favorite Fictional School Dances

My first official school dance was the 5th grade Square Dance. (Yes, you read that right. No, I'm not from a farming community.) For weeks in advance, we learned some two-steps during gym class and shyly practiced do-si-do-ing during recess. On the big night, clad in denim skirts, my friends and I French-braided our hair and reapplied our lip gloss in the girls’ bathroom before we braved the dance floor. Despite our nerves, the dance turned out to be pretty awesome. There were specific steps to follow and partners to choose, so everyone felt the same level of moderate humiliation and immense relief. We were in it together.

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, school dances are part of life. And whether you’re Team Yay or Team Nay (or Team I’m-Way-Too-Busy-With-Homework-and-Sports-To-Care-About-School-Dances-Anyway), lots of books feature them, and it’s fun to compare the reality versus what authors dream up!

For instance, my Square Dance simply cannot compare to the awesomely magical Yule Ball that Harry Potter and friends get to attend in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. (Come to think of it, not even my fancy senior prom could compare to the show that Hogwarts puts on!) But there are less elaborate, though equally exciting, school dances found in other books, like the Halloween dance that the Baby-sitter’s Club members get to dress up for in Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls, or the annual winter dance Addie and friends attend in Wish Upon a Star (How I Survived Middle School #11).

So what do you all think about school dances — love 'em or hate 'em? And have you ever read about a fictional school dance you wish you could attend?

— Morgan, Scholastic staffer

Comments

[Comment #1]

I personally I'd love to have a school dance but my school dose not have one. But, my favorite fantasy dance to go to is the high school dance Percy Annabeth and Thalia go to in The Titan's Curse they are on a mission to rescue some demigods that attend the school while there they have a little fun!

[Comment #2]

I think that a school dance would be fun IF you had someone to go with. POSTME!
Armysis17

[Comment #3]

OMG!! It has to be Twilight!!

[Comment #4]

I would either attend Harry Potter Yule Ball or The wish upon a star

[Comment #5]

i agree w/ the blue review!!!

[Comment #6]

I like scary school dances, with rock-hard themes. Like the prom on Wizards of Waverly place "Wizards vs Vampiers bloodsucking sauga". Everyone gets to dance in a group and laugh and scream together.

[Comment #7]

We're learning the Fox Trot in dance class. There is no choice, I have to perform it. Well, it's no TOO bad.

[Comment #8]

I like the scary school dance on Wizards of Waverly Place "Wizards vs Vampires". That was cool.

[Comment #9]

I like this book and this book is the cooly book in the world.

[Comment #10]

iluuuuuvvvvv how i survived middle school books even though i just started.

[Comment #11]

omg i love jacob on new moon he is so cuttttte

[Comment #12]

i actually dislike dances cuz i can't dance, but if i had to go to one i would go to the one in accidentally fabulous

[Comment #13]

Oh My Gosh! My first school dance was this year and I'm in sixth grade! (in middle school now. YAY!) Anyways, the school dances are always so cool! The next one at my school is coming up! I can just imagine my crush sweeping me off my feet....... I love em!

Sugarqueen73

[Comment #14]

I would LOVE to go to the Yule Ball in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire! Who would I take with me? Ummm...let's go with the Weasley twings!

[Comment #15]

your lucky that you got to go to the dace in fith grade.my parents wont even lit me go to any dance as long as it is in my grade level.and who would ask me to the dance anyway?

[Comment #16]

my mom let me go outside

[Comment #17]

this book is raw as wat the first i read this book i didnt like it at all but then i kept on readn the book and i really like it i read 1,2 they are really good books and they show how u are all thee time lol

[Comment #18]

We have dances at my school all the time, and they are very fun. Although, i have never had a country dance or anything, mainly because no one would go. I don't live in the country, nor do i want to. All of our dances consist of rap music and most of the things youll hear on MTV. Rap isn't my type music, im more into rock but the time with my friends is fun, and not having to do work is amazing.

[Comment #19]

omg i absolutely love all the how i survived middle school books they are fantastic and they really relate to real life situations. :)

[Comment #20]

my 1st dnce was not fun AT ALL!! i wish people wuld actually dance bcuz wen me and my "daredevil" girlfriends started.. well.. others just STARED, i like 2 thnk they were just jealous! plus 1 dude was following 1 of me BFFS which made her feel UNCOMFORTABLE!!

[Comment #21]

At my school, we don't have dances, we have "social gatherings." Not fun fun at all. We have them during the day, and we usually have them on "spirit days" when we don't have to where a uniform! Overall, I would like actual dances!

[Comment #22]

I'VE HADE SCHOOL DANCES THEY WERE GOOD BUT.......!! WE HAVENT HAD ONE WERE YOU DANCE WITH SOMEBODY BRING SOMEBODIEE ...........

[Comment #23]

My fave dance was my fifth grade dance and it was so cool we got to bring dates and everything ( but the dates had to be in fifth grade at the school ) but we had a live DJ and we all danced and it was dark so they gave us glow sticks the all the girls made in to a circle and used as angels halos but i loved all of my dances

[Comment #24]

I do not like school dances. I think they're a waste of time and money. I know this because, I had a really bad experience at one. I went with some people in my class I wanted to be friends with, but they ignored me and didn't want to be my friend.

[Comment #25]

If you hate dances, don't go to them!! To me, you should only go to dances that YOU want to go to!! If someone is pressuring you to go to a dance, and you don't want to, say," Hey, I really don't want to go to this dance. I might go to other dances, so please don't bother me about it." Remember, dances cost money, so don't feel you have to go to every one.