Last spring, as I danced among the seniors of 2009 on a small square of dance floor facing the less-than-appealing view of the two exit doors of M&T Bank Stadium, I tried to picture how prom with my own Class of 2010 would play out next year.
I was already excited enough at the prospect of being with my class and enjoying a prom of my own. But never would I have guessed that come spring 2010, I would be dancing next to a tank of dolphins and jellyfish.
For the first time in JC history, seniors will be able to experience being “under the sea,” and not just through a cheesy, paper-fish decorated theme. The Class of 2010’s prom will be held at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, and I could not be more excited.
Not only will the atmosphere of the Aquarium be amazing, but this year’s seniors will have more options. Compared to the two choices of last year’s prom: sitting (inside, or outside in the barren bleachers of the M&T Stadium) or dancing (on a less-than-adequate dance floor), this year’s choices seem almost infinite.
The setting of the Aquarium’s two-story party area will allow seniors this year to relax either downstairs or upstairs, check out the dolphin and jellyfish tanks, stay seated at their tables to talk to friends, or dance next to the dolphins. It’s going to be a great night.
Another bonus is we have an hour to explore all the exhibits of the aquarium when we arrive. The only catch is that the aquarium will still be open to the general public at this time, so I guess we’ll just have to deal with getting double-takes for wearing an evening gown or tuxedo among groups of jean-clad marine animal-lovers.
The aquarium as a setting for prom this year obviously has its perks, but I had to wonder, why the change?
When senior class moderator Anne Baker informed me that the problem was location, I thought back to last year and quickly understood.
After the first part of prom last year was over, we were all ready to go to the ESPN Zone. Unfortunately, the estimated two-minute bus ride proved way too much of a hassle.
Trying to get over one hundred students out of a crowded building with only two elevators was a lot more difficult than one would think.
And by the time we finally made it onto a bus, we ended up having to sit for twenty minutes waiting for the other buses to be filled just so we could leave.
The two-minute bus ride turned out to include over twenty minutes of waiting for every bus to get loaded and leave.
To avoid a repeat of this dilemma, the new location had to be within walking distance from the ESPN Zone. Out of all the choices around that area, the aquarium, as Baker explains, was the only one that had the “wow-factor.”
So, yes seniors, we might have to get our nice shoes a little dirty and our floor-length dresses might drag on the short walk over to the ESPN Zone, but it’s definitely a fair sacrifice for such a great prom location.
Plus, if everything goes well this year, prom at the Aquarium could likely become a new tradition.
Let’s make it a night to remember!
Alex Bahr can be reached for comment at [email protected].