School dances are a staple of what many refer to as “the high school experience.” At Herriman High School, these events aim to offer a unique experience each year through fun, creative themes. Regardless of whether you remember school dances at Herriman because of those cheesy slow dances you awkwardly shimmied to or as one of the most fun nights you’ve ever had, the value of the high school dance as an event for students to make everlasting memories remains the same.
At their core, school dances are social milestones for the student population—brief but meaningful opportunities to take a step back from the stress school can bring on a student’s life and just have fun. Little moments in each of our stories to go out and be more than what many of us are used to. A chance to present yourself, be bold, and make your own decisions. Moments like this—as modest as they may be—are critical to the development of one’s social character and a chance to deepen connections with those closest to yourself. Additionally, it gives students invaluable life skills such as communication, confidence, and social awareness.
The Sadie Hawkins dance is one such dance that we at Herriman had the pleasure of hosting on Nov. 8, 2025. Part of what makes Sadie’s unique from other dances is the tradition in which girls invite their dates, flipping the usual formality seen at most school events. This simple twist to the dance refreshingly shifts the pressure and allows the girls to experience something new. Traditionally, Sadie’s has been going on since back when it was historically introduced through a daily comic strip created by Cartoonist Al Capp back in the late 1930’s. Over time this new custom evolved into a beloved tradition across the United States. It’s perseverance over the years showing us that tradition can come from anywhere and still stick.
Critics of school dances often argue that school dances are stress inducing or costly for students and the schools budget. While these concerns are valid, with ticket prices usually around $15 and a more casual atmosphere for most dances including Sadie Hawkins, Herriman High School’s main office still inevitably ends up flooded in the days coming before each dance. This shows us that despite the digital age we live in, Herriman students still value opportunities for genuine, in-person experiences.
Further pushing the girls choice tradition from Sadie Hawkins, the Winter Ball dance that will be hosted on Dec. 13 is coming up real soon. Given how closely the two events fall on the calendar, some may worry that this diminishes some of the value of the Sadie Hawkins dance brought to this school in the first place. However, the essence of what makes Winter Ball unique will remain the same. The dance will continue to be the same winter themed, semi-formal dance full of festive-tinted memories that it’s always been regardless of who asks whom. Memories that will follow the students of Herriman High well beyond graduation.
