Snowball: a night in vintage Hollywood
Photo credit: NPR
By Sarah Kirkpatrick, Staff Writer
On Saturday, February 18th, Gettysburg students traveled back in time to the Golden Age of Cinema as they walked down a makeshift red carpet in their fanciest clothes to enter a transformed CUB Ballroom. The event, Gettysburg’s annual Snowball semi-formal dance, cosponsored by the Campus Activities Board (CAB) and Sigma Chi, drew impressive crowds with this year’s Vintage Hollywood theme.
Some partygoers arrived as early as 8 o’clock to master a few swing dancing moves with a free lesson sponsored by the Swing! Club. Dance partners learned the basic dips and spins they needed to impress their friends when the party got started.
Around 9 o’clock, the swing dance portion of the evening began when the Buzz Jones Big Band, featuring Gettysburg College’s Professor Buzz Jones, took the stage to perform classic swing tunes. Couples and singles alike hit the dance floor to show off their moves and semiformal attire. After two hours of exciting live music, the Buzz Jones Band finished their performance and DJ Ziegler arrived to continue the party.
“My favorite part of the dance was getting dressed up and having a big band there to perform for us,” says junior and veteran Snowball attendee Miranda Bubenheim, “It was so classy.” Bubenheim enjoyed this year’s dance even more than previous Snowballs because of its more gradual transition from swing to modern rap music, a feat that the DJ accomplished by playing a diverse mixture of Latino music and party favorites like “Shout,” which was accompanied by a video clip of its legendary appearance in Animal House.
However, dancing to the live music was not the only form of entertainment available at the dance. This year’s Snowball also featured a photo booth, chocolate fountain, impressive snack table, and host provider for those who were old enough to drink.
CAB hoped to create an old-fashioned, classic cinema vibe at the dance, a mood they tried to cement by hosting a Breakfast at Tiffany’s movie screening in the Junction on the night before the dance. This 1961 Audrey Hepburn classic helped students get into the right mindset to appreciate the regal, extravagant, and exciting Hollywood atmosphere that the group strived to create in the CUB Ballroom for the Snowball.
“The best part of the night was seeing our ideas come to life,” explains first year CAB member Quyn Israel, “At first, it was hard to envision how the event would turn out, but I think it was a major success.”
February 25, 2017
Fantastic article. Sarah’s detailed description of the entire event made you feel like you were there in person while reading it. Certainly sounded like a magical night for all who attended.
Beautiful write up. Thank you for sharing.