Prom
A promenade dance or promenade,[1][2] commonly called a prom in American English,[2] is a dance party for high school students. It may be offered in semi-formal black tie or informal suit for boys, and evening gowns for girls. This event is typically held near the end of the school year. There may be individual junior (11th grade) and senior (12th grade) proms or they may be combined.
Several terms redirect here. For other uses, see Prom (disambiguation); the U.S. Air Force program Senior Prom; the 1946 film Junior Prom; Junior Prom (band); Prom King (album); The Prom Kings; and Prom Queen (disambiguation).
At a prom, a "prom king" and a "prom queen" may be revealed. These are honorary titles awarded to students elected in a school-wide vote prior to the prom.[3] Other students may be honored with inclusion in a prom court. The selection method for a prom court is similar to that of homecoming queen/princess, king/prince, and court. Inclusion in a prom court may be a reflection of popularity of those students elected and their level of participation in school activities, such as clubs or sports.[4][5]
The prom queen and prom king may be given crowns to wear. Members of the prom court may be given sashes to wear and photographed together.[6]
Similar events, which may be locally inspired by debutante balls, take place in many other parts of the world. In Canada, the terms "formal" and "Grad" are often used, while in Australia and New Zealand, the terms school formal and ball are most commonly used for occasions equivalent to the American prom, and the event is usually held for students in Year 12, although the bestowing of the regal titles does not occur. Many schools hold a formal graduation ball for finishing students at the end of the year in place of or as well as a formal. In Ireland, a debutante ball or debs may also be held. In Poland and Lithuania, high schools organize a "studniówka" (lt. “Šimtadienis”). The term "prom" has become more common in the United Kingdom and Canada because of the influence of American films and television shows, such as Grease. In South Africa, this event is widely known as a matric dance as students in their 12th year of school are called matric students. In South Asia, its equivalent is a farewell party.
Variation exists between different dialects with regard to whether prom is used with the definite article or not—e.g., whether one says "go to the prom" or "go to prom".[7]
In Australia[edit]
In Australia, formals are usually held in the spring and summer months for students in Year 10 and Year 12. Some schools may also organise a formal-style event for Year 11 students, aptly named a "social". These events are widely considered to be a "rite of passage" for students.
Year 10 formals are usually not sanctioned or supported by schools, due to the reason being that most students do not finish formal education before Year 10[33][34] however Year 12 formals are, with the school organising the event. Formal attendees are allowed to bring "plus-ones" to the formal, usually friends from other schools or boyfriends/girlfriends. A formal day usually consists of a timeframe where students can take photos with each other and their parents, followed by transport by limousine to the venue, three-course dinner, awards, and dancing. The award topics are usually suggestive in nature, and the award recipients are voted upon by attending students.
Related social gatherings elsewhere[edit]
Africa[edit]
In Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, and Tanzania most private schools with expatriates have proms or "end of year socials".
Homeschool proms[edit]
The concept of extending prom to homeschool students has been realized in recent years. Although some school districts in the United States and Canada allow homeschool students to attend the prom in the school district where they reside, many homeschool groups also organize their own proms. Some states, such as Oregon,[47] Ohio, Georgia, Tennessee, and Michigan, also host statewide homeschool proms, which any homeschool student in that state is welcome to attend.
Proms that are specifically geared toward homeschool students can sometimes be significantly different from traditional high school proms. It is not uncommon for a homeschool student to attend a homeschool prom solo, rather than taking a date. Often the music played is chosen by the parents rather than the students.
Adult proms[edit]
An adult prom is a social event that is almost perfectly similar to a high school prom in terms of themes and attire, except that some adult proms also serve alcoholic beverages, and therefore most adult proms (at least in the U.S.) require those attending to be at least 21 years of age. The origin of adult prom is unclear, though two events which occurred in the 1990s are likely to have inspired the concept. Drew Barrymore stated in a late 1990s interview on Late Night with Conan O'Brien that she threw a prom party for herself and a few friends who never got to go to prom.[48]
The Class of 1956 from Tenafly, New Jersey, whose prom was canceled at the time, held their own prom for their 35 Year Reunion in 1991.[49]
In the Nobody's Property novel series, character Mallorie Walcott, an event planner, mentions that she helped put her younger daughter Cassandra through college, in part, from the revenue she made from planning adult proms in the 1990s either for people who missed their actual high school proms in the 1970s and 1980s or simply wanted to re-live their prom night.
A form of adult prom is the "second chance prom". It is a big gathering of people who either did not go to prom, wanted to relive prom, or whose high school prom did not work out the way they had hoped.
A slightly different take on the adult prom is that of the disabilities prom, dedicated to providing a prom experience to disabled adults at no charge to the attendees. These events are most often organized by non-profit organizations focusing on the disabled, or large churches.[50]
In 2010, Theatrical producers in New York produced an audience participation theatrical play, set in an actual dance hall, called The Awesome 80s Prom,[51] where attendees were at a prom and got to vote on the king and queen from the cast of characters.
Anti-proms and alternative proms[edit]
Anti-proms can be private, unofficial proms that are privately created, outside the control of the school, usually by people who disagree with their school's prom policies. Some schools also include the anti-prom as an official event called MORP (Prom spelled backwards). MORP dances can be similar to a Sadie Hawkins dance where the girls ask a boy on a date, they can have informal attire, and the decor can be dark or less elegant.
Proms for gay and lesbian people who did not attend their proms with a date of the same sex are popular in some cities.[52] These proms may also enable trans people who experienced prom before transitioning a chance to attend as the correct gender. A 1980 court decision, Fricke v. Lynch, required a public school in Rhode Island to allow same-sex dates, but discrimination against gay students continued for decades across the country.
Proms have been the source of many controversies, many of which involve LGBT students.