Walls plastered with royal colors cover the walls and a whirlwind of beads, music and joy transformed the prosaic high school into a late Mardi Gras night in Louisiana at 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, as students enjoyed the annual fall Homecoming Dance following five days of Homecoming festivities. 

Though the dance commenced in the evening, for many dancers, the fun began before the celebration. A fall dance tradition, friend groups took pictures at popular photo op hotspots such as Great Hills or downtown Austin. After creating timeless memories, many dancers bought dinner with their friend groups prior to attending the dance. 

“I was super excited for Homecoming all day,” Daria Freehill ‘28 said. “I got ready with my friends and then we went to The Arboretum, took pictures, and ate dinner at BJ’s [Restaurant & Brewhouse].”

The Pacesetters declared the dance’s theme — Mardi Gras — early in the school year through a social media post. Channeling the celebratory theme, jesters, masquerade masks, and green, purple and gold banners were hung across the school. Much like a New Orleans jazz bar, fairy lights covered the walls and loud party music resounded throughout the dance hall. 

“I like the effort they’ve put into the decorations,” Milana Monk ‘26 said. “The theme is more specific than it has been in past years, and more cultural which is pretty cool.” 

Attracting students, the dance featured a 360-degree revolving camera where individuals strike poses, producing a glamorous slow-motion replay. Long lines stretched across the hall as students waited for their turn. 

“I’ve never seen [the 360-degree photo booth] before, so I thought it was really cool,” Claire Jong ‘29 said. “There are more activities than I thought there would be [at the dance], so it’s really nice.”

“This was my first year [of Pacesetters], so it was really exciting to be a part of something so special,” Theresa Bell ‘28 said. “It definitely took a lot of work and coordination but in the end it came together wonderfully.”

For the second year in a row, students had the opportunity to participate in the silent disco in addition to the dance floor in the cafeteria. The silent disco was a fun and interactive way students could enjoy the night while minimizing the commotion one may face in the large crowds on the dance floor. Blasting fan favorites such as Justin Bieber and Jack Harlow, students could listen to upbeat tracks while enjoying a calmer experience compared to the traditional dance floor. 

“The songs are okay, but [being] here with [my] friends, with energy, [makes] it fun,” Misha Baxamoosa ’28 said. “[The silent disco] makes me have my own time with my friends, just chilling, dancing and singing, so I really like it.”

Along with the staple casino and dance floor, dancers also had the opportunity to take pictures with friends in the photo booth. Lines snaked as far as halfway through the atrium as students eagerly waited for their chance with the booth. 

“It was so fun because it’s more of a private environment [to take photos], so I think it makes [the experience] more meaningful,” Arden Choi ‘26 said. 

Whether students played group games such as Blackjack and poker or took the night slow with dinners and pictures, the Homecoming Dance served as an outlet for dancers to experience a night of fun.

“Homecoming is always a fun time of the year,” Isabelle Call ‘28 said. “I really think it’s a great way for students to connect with each other and make long-lasting memories.”