In the United States and Canada, a prom, short for promenade or promotion, is used to describe a formal dance held at the end of the high school academic year.
While proms at smaller schools may be open to the entire student body, large schools may hold two proms, a junior prom for those finishing their 11th grade year and a senior prom for those who are finishing their high school years. The name is derived from the late nineteenth century practice of a promenade ball. The end of year tradition stemmed from the graduation ball tradition.
Boys usually dress in black tie (a dinner jacket and bow tie), sometimes with brightly colored cummerbunds or vests, though any sort of formal wear can be worn. Traditionally, girls gave boys matching boutonnieres to be worn on the tuxedos. Girls traditionally wear formal gowns or dresses adorned with a corsage given to them by their date. Often, boys and girls will dress according to the theme of the prom - e.g. pastel suits for a Miami Vice-themed prom.
Common prom activities include dining, dancing, the crowning of a prom King and Queen, and socializing. In some cases, high school students accumulate funds for their class prom through fundraisers over the four years they attend their high school. High schools in or near large cities may rent ballrooms at expensive hotels or, to be unusual, venues such as a pleasure cruise boat. Many students group together to take limousines to their proms. Often costs are cut by using the school gym, which challenges the decorating committee to somehow mask the gym odor and drab surfaces. Music played during the dance portion of the event is normally the genre(s) most popular with the attendees.
Some high school students feel that prom is the most romantic night of their lives. They may go in a group that includes a person they have known for years; other times, students just try to find a date that they like. Many find it to be just as fun to attend with friends, not worrying about the dating aspect of the prom.
| No work, no decorations, ALL FUN, and we get to Drop It Like It's HOT!!!~ |
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| Prom will be awesome 'cause I get to dress up and act like a DORK all in one night! |
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| I love prom especially being able to get on that dance floor and doing my THANG! |
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| I can't wait to get all dressed up and have some CrAzY fun!! |
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| I like prom because I get to look good (not like that picture) and because I play some mad volleyball at After Prom! |
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| I l-o-v-e dressing up and looking like a PRINCESS for one night! |
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| It's going to be awesome considering how GOOD I will look. (right Crystal?) |
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| I am so excited! I am ready for everyone to see how GOOD I look! (right Trav?) |
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| Well I just wanna say that me and my date are going to look HOTT, and I'm p-u-m-p-e-d!! |
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| I don't get to go to prom! I will be in NEW YORK CITY! While everybody is stressing about their dress and after prom and competing on how good everyone will look; I will be walking the streets of 5th Avenue picking up every hot guy that walks past me! So everyone, have fun at p.r.o.m! |
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| I'm excited for prom because this is my first one to go to and we get to get all dressed up and look GOOOOOD! |
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| Prom.....Overrated.....can't wait until After Prom! |
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