With flashing lights, waving flags, roaring music and poppy outfits, the Welcome Back Dance was loud and lively as students followed the theme: the 2016 Rio Olympics. The 2016 Welcome Back Dance was colorful with students wearing bright and flashy colors to embrace the theme. Class officers decided that students would dress in Olympic inspired clothing because of the of the ongoing Rio Olympics.
Seniors decided to do their own take on Olympic spirit. Some seniors went all out, creating their own outfits. Senior Allen Iwamoto and his friends decided to make tie-dye shirts to follow the Olympic theme, which is known for its bright colors.
He explains that dressing up for the Welcome Back Dance has become a tradition and friend groups wearing matching clothes is becoming a trend.
According to Iwamoto, the inspiration for his clothing came from previous years’ seniors. He liked the look, so he recreated his own. He wanted something creative yet colorful to home in the Olympic theme. So, Iwamoto and his friends wore purple-green-blue tie-dye clothing. He explains he had started planning for the occasion about a week and a half in advance. The process took a couple of hours where they tie-dyed their clothing and painted the backs with their names.
“[The best part of the Welcome Back Dance] is the dancing and the socializing,” Iwamoto said. “It’s a good place to let yourself go and do whatever you want, have fun with your friends.”
As a senior, Iwamoto feels that this year’s dance is different because it is his last Welcome Back Dance. Because of this, he feels that we should make the most out of the dance.
“Senior year makes it a lot different because I want to be able to remember everything that happens throughout the last year of high school, and this is a great way to kick it off,” Iwamoto said.
Seniors Cepideh Razavi and Liana Santos dressed up as superheroes to the Welcome Back dance. According to Razavi, it was a cheap and easy way to get dressed for the dance since they already had superhero shirts. Santos was dressed in a Green Lantern outfit while Razavi dressed in a Batman outfit. While they planned the outfit a week in advance, Razavi says it didn’t take too long to put together.
Razavi says that the best part of the Welcome Back Dance is being a senior and the privilege of freedom.
“It’s different because I feel more in charge and like I can do whatever,” Santos said.
Junior David Truong and senior Shayan Eslamian wore their football jerseys to the dance.
“I love my team; I know they have my back and I have theirs,” Truong said. “So to represent my team I’m wearing my jersey.”
Truong says that wearing jerseys to the Welcome Back dance is a tradition for football players.
“It’s been a tradition for football players to wear their jerseys to the Welcome Back Dance, and you know, I’m always with my team so here I am continuing the tradition,” said Truong.
Seniors Shivalika Chavan, Rhea Rangarajan and Dara Woo explain that they tried their best to come up with last-minute outfits for the dance.
Chavan and her friends dressed in white shirts, which were cut into strips at the end. They also added a few accessories to finish off their look.
“There’s not really a theme,” Chavan said. “We made these shirts today. We just wanted something that coordinated so we have socks, t-shirts, and necklaces that match.”
Rangarajan says that they made their own twist by “doing things on the spot.”
“It’s just about spending time with each other and this is one of the last high school dances that we’ll be together,” Rangarajan said.
