The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

Beyond the Backdoor

Beyond+the+Backdoor

The Backdoor Boys’ unconventional form of community service began on Thursday April 23 at the beginning of lunch, when senior Ameya Ganpule made his move to ask her to senior ball.

The Backdoor Boys’ unconventional form of community service began on Thursday April 23 at the beginning of lunch, when senior Ameya Ganpule made his move. Executing an elaborately planned senior ball ask, Ganpule enlisted his friends’ help, donning a Superman costume while his friends played the villains. Ganpule “saved” his to-be date from his treacherous friends, who “abducted” her. After a high octane chase and a successful senior ball ask, the group began to think.
“We thought ‘hm, maybe we could help other people too!'” senior Vivek Jha said. The group then decided to offer its services to anyone who needed them, with the only condition being that the asker pay for any materials. The Boys would take care of the rest.

The Backdoor Boys, comprised of seniors Jha, Ganpule, Matt Irvin, Doug Hasegawa, Thomas Lu, Brad Chew, Bryan Nguyen and Derek Wong, formed the group initially based on the senior Powderpuff cheerleaders. The group slowly evolved to encompass more than the cheerleaders alone, yet retainedthe unique Powderpuff style, thus the Backdoor Boys were formed. They officially debuted the Backdoor Boys on Open Mic Night, emulating Powderpuff routines during their performance.
And like the Powderpuff group from which they evolved, the Boys definitely have a penchant for bright colors and challenges. It shows in their tripped-out rainbow tie-dyed wifebeaters. “We’re up for anything,” Irvin said. “Anything you fancy.”

Image

To the Backdoor Boys, part of their appeal is their nonpareil flamboyance and comedic rarity. “It’s a unique ask. They’d have the benefit of knowing they’d asked or been asked using the hotness of the Backdoor Boys,” Jha said. “[The ask] would be really big, really public. There would be some plot, like [Ganpule’s], and of course, very, very amazing costumes.”

Fully aware of their flamboyance, the Backdoor Boys don’t shy away from it. They embrace it. “It’s so overall awkward that it’s not awkward [at all]. We really enjoy that,” Irwin said with a laugh. “Yeah… it’s pretty [out there].”

Citing the YouTube phenomenon of the “Yes Dance” as his inspiration, Jha grinned. “We always like to end on a ‘Yes’.”

Their next gig will be at Thursday’s Senior Gala where the Backdoor Boys will grace the stage, once more displaying their irresistible appeal.

More to Discover