Cherry Hill High School East spread its annual Homecoming dance across four spaces on Oct. 10, giving students options well beyond a traditional dance floor.
The event, themed "Hocorade" after a masquerade ball, ran from 7 to 10 p.m. and was the only dance of the year open to all four grade levels, the student newspaper Eastside reported. Other East dances, including Frosh Cot, Junior Prom and Senior Prom, are separated by class.
Stella Kim, East's school-wide president, said the all-school format set Homecoming apart. "Hoco is the one dance for the entire school. … [It's] the one where it brings all four grades together," Kim told Eastside.
Kim said the masquerade theme helped create a spooky ambiance suited to autumn. Black-and-gold decorations carried the look throughout the venue.
The Student Government Association (SGA) and the Thespian Society organized the dance together, splitting tasks into committees. Organizers had to adjust after the football team's altered game schedule moved the dance to an earlier date than originally planned, according to Eastside.
One cafeteria held food, drinks and a photo booth. The second cafeteria served as the main dance floor with music playing all evening. In the courtyard, students could play spikeball and Connect Four or sit at tables away from the crowd.
The Little Theater offered glitter tattoos. A quiet sensory room was also available for students who wanted to step away from the noise. Some students told Eastside the sensory room was a favorite for its uniqueness.
The layout drew praise. "I like the setup and I like how there are multiple areas people can go to enjoy," freshman Arush Varma told Eastside.
Lillian Tummings, vice president of the Class of 2028, told Eastside the masquerade concept worked well for October. She said she liked seeing more students show up and get excited about the dance rather than just taking pictures.
Kim told Eastside that organizers wanted to encourage students to attend, especially seniors experiencing their final Homecoming. By the end of the night, both cafeterias and the courtyard were filled with students, creating what organizers described as a sense of unity across all four grades.
