Prom’s Humble Origins (And It’s Distortions throughout Pop Culture)

Prom is a time in every teen’s life when boys and girls alike
dress themselves to the nines and spend the night eating, dancing, and enjoying
their final moments of high school together. The word prom originates from the “promenade,”
which in the past was the formal entrance of guests as they entered a party.

During the early 19th century, the co-ed banquets held by
American universities were the earliest form of prom in the United States. As
the U.S. became more and more populated with teens, the advent of prom was
yearned for by younger and younger generations. Later, parents and teachers thought
that hosting formal dinner dances for high school aged teens would instill
adequate social skills and etiquette, better preparing them for their
soon-to-be adult lives.

By the 1930’s, proms were being held nationwide. They
typically began with a banquet dinner, followed by dancing and performances by
local bands. Up until the 1950’s, proms were held in high school gyms.
America’s post-war economy was what pushed proms off of school grounds and out
into the world of banquet halls, country clubs, and hotel ballrooms. Prom
attendance peaked in the 1980s and continues to be a pinnacle event of
everyone’s high school career.

Whether you’re an adult who has to dust the cobwebs from your
mind to recall your prom or a teen starting to consider what you’ll wear or who
you’ll take to next year’s prom, get your minds churning with Hollywood’s take
on proms and formals. While typically nowhere near accurate representations of
real life, these are some of the most iconic dances featured in popular movies:

• ·      Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire. The Yule Ball, a coveted tradition
  in wizard culture, was a time for witches and wizards to adorn their best dress
  robes and enjoy the company of their peers from the wizarding schools across
  the globe. This dance was held during the Tri-Wizard Tournament, which took
  place during Harry’s fourth year of schooling at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft
  and Wizardry. We read in the books and see within the movie Harry, Ron and
  Hermione dressed to impress at their one and only prom-styled event. Their
  night is packed with all of the stereotypical drama you would expect to see at
  a prom – after all, it wouldn’t be a formal dance if Hermione didn’t end the
  night in tears, would it?

• ·    She’s All That. You’d be the most respected person
  in your class if you got a celebrity to attend and guest DJ you prom like Usher
  did in She’s All That. The graduating
  class of the Southern California high school does a well orchestrated
  synchronized dance, which could only happen in a late 90’s coming-of-age tale
  like this one. Whether you’re the jock or the girl-next-door turned prom queen,
  this iconic prom scene is definitely one to try and recreate.

• ·       
  Grease. While it’s not quite prom at Rydell
  High, it’s definitely a reason to dance! The school’s dance is featured in an American
  Bandstand-style dance competition and Sandy, Danny and the gang do their best
  “Hand Jive” in an attempt to get noticed. This movie is an exemplary example
  of when and how high school dances became so popular throughout American
  culture.

• ·       
  Mean Girls. The epitome of a high school drama,
  Mean Girls gives us a closer look at the “mean girl culture” that can
  unfortunately be found in any and every high school. This iconic tale peaks at
  the Spring Fling, where Cady finally opens up and takes on the Plastics once
  and for all. If there were ever a right time to address the hate that purges
  your school, prom is the ideal time to address each and every one of your
  teachers and peers!

• ·       
  Twilight. Bella and Edwards gazebo dance was
  the kind of moment a high school teen could only dream about. The couple step
  into a stereotypical prom scene with bouncing teens and obnoxious music.
  Friends and passerby bid greetings to Bella, who is later swept off her feet
  and whisked away to a gazebo dotted with string lights and literally swept off
  of her feet as Edward twirls her around to the soft sounds of Iron & Wine.

• ·       
  It’s A Wonderful Life. It’s A Wonderful Life, the timeless
  Christmas tale that’s about to be playing on television sets across the nation,
  might spark your brain to start thinking about the next prom season. Though
  this movie is packed to the brim with the meaning of the Christmas season, many
  people ignore the scene where a young Jimmy Stewart getting his groove on and
  falling into the school swimming pool with his date!

• ·       
  Footloose. A movie about dance based in a town
  that forbids dance. What could be better? The young hopefuls of the town fight
  to express themselves through dance and, thanks to a brawny Kevin Bacon,
  they’re all able to let loose (see what we did there?) at the end and celebrate
  their victory at prom.

• ·     Carrie. Creepy, but still a movie that
  primarily focuses on the traditional American prom. Definitely not a prom you
  would want to attend, but if you’re someone who has dreaded proms in the past,
  pop this movie in during the 2017 prom season and sympathize with our girl,
  Carrie.

• ·       Back To The Future. Super-cool Michael J. Fox commands
  the stage at the 1950-something prom of Whittier High School. While 2017
  prom-goers probably won’t be fending off advances from their parents in the
  parking lot, there’s always the chance of a musically-inclined classmate
  hopping on stage and shredding on the guitar.

Whether you want to try and recreate one of these well known
prom moments or create new memories of your own, step it up next prom season.
Whether you’re wearing one of the many classy tuxedos out there or one of the
stunning Prom Dresses 2017
fashion has to offer, Aim to be the best dressed at your prom.

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