High school gyms are typically used for sporting events such as basketball and wrestling, however gyms are large spaces and have the potential to accommodate a large number of people. Aside from parent-teacher conferences, drama club plays, and debate team competitions, gyms can be used for school dances. If a high school class cannot afford to rent a ballroom or a conference room at a hotel, try holding the formal dance in your high school gym. With some budget-friendly dcor, the help of students in your class, and an okay from the gym facility manager, you can pull off a prom, homecoming or any other type of formal without a hitch!
Get permission: First and foremost, its important to get permission from an athletic director or fitness facility manager before holding a formal in your high school gym. Gym flooring is expensive and many different shoes can damage floor finish. Be sure to clear it with a superior; theyll most likely be fine with it, especially if your facility has gym floor covers that protect the floors.
Affordable decorations: Transforming a drab gym into a beautiful, formal venue may seem daunting, or at least expensive, however there are some smart ways to make your formal dcor radiate. Decide on a theme for the dance because it will help narrow your search for decorations. Recruit art students to make paper flowers and posters to cover the walls. Ask the home economics teacher to contribute cookies or cakes to the dessert table. Cover your gym floor covers, the ones that help protect the finished flooring from foot traffic, with colorful plastic sheets. And if draping fabric or tissue over the gym floor covering is too much work, simply set the mood by dimming the lights, which will help hide bulky bleachers and sports equipment. Be sure to incorporate fun decorations like balloons and streamers that not only make a room pop, but are affordable, too.
Enlist the help of students: Since high school students will be attending this formal dance, why not have them be active participants in this big event? Not only can art students help create decorations, but students in business classes can take on the role as promoters. Perhaps multimedia students would like to work with the gyms lighting, and maybe band classes would record music that could be played intermittently throughout the dance. It can be great to make your student bodys participation a learning, but fun experience. Its a creative way to get students excited, as well as a smart way to stick to the dance budget.
After the logistical planning, like asking for permission and setting a formal date, is complete, the decorating and student participation will make the formal dance one students will never forget.