Pulsating beats will emerge from the gigantic ballroom. Streamers, balloons and flashing lights surround the crowd of young dancers, who sweat and smile while busting a move to “Hot in Herre.” It’s not a flashback to your homecoming or prom — it’s a scene from the Syracuse University’s First-Year Semi-Formal.

In the past, guests have felt as if they were attending a high school dance. But for students whose former dance experiences include the stresses of limos, hairstylists, manicures and the “perfect” date, this year’s dance, called “A Night of a Million Stars,” at 8 p.m. Friday at the Syracuse OnCenter, will be a breath of fresh air.

“It’s never been the intention of this event to be like a high school dance,” said Eric Schlameuss, a fifth-year architecture student, chairman of the event’s committee and chairman of the SU chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary. “It’s really going to be a spectacular event. We’ve put in a lot of time to make this special.”

Chad Bender, a sophomore television, radio and film and entrepenuership major who is also the Residence Hall Association’s director of social programming, agreed with Schlameuss, explaining that the event will be very different from students’ expectations.

“We’re only playing about one slow dance an hour, and there’s no pressure to have a date. Most people will be going with friends,” Bender said. “It’ll be a good way for first-year students to bond together.”

But some students will skip the event because they want to avoid a high school dance situation, said Nicole Sullivan, a freshman television, radio and film major who is planning to attend.

“A lot of people aren’t going to go is because they want to break away from the whole high school experience,” Sullivan said. “But I like going to dances, and I miss the whole scene of high school.“

For many SU freshmen, a typical Friday night includes a party or two, maybe a movie or a trip to the bars. This dance will provide an alternative to that scene.

“It’s really nice to go to a dance and not a party where you get beer spilled on you,” said Susan Kotwas, a senior interior design major who attended the dance her freshman year. “I went with a bunch of people on my floor. It was a lot of fun to have something to go to and get all dressed up.”

Schlameuss agrees that this dance is a chance for students to step out to a unique weekend experience.

“It’s one of the rare opportunities where students can pay less than they would for a movie with what can really be a good time for the majority of them,” Schlameuss said.

The dance is semi-formal, a quality which may create a headache for some. But the dress code is not strict and, unlike high school affairs, students do not need to spend a fortune picking out the most gorgeous ensemble. They can wear anything from their dust-collecting prom dresses to khakis and a nice shirt.

“(The students) define semi-formal,” Schlameuss said. “Just as long as people don’t wear jeans.”

Kotwas and her friends kept it simple.

“None of us went out shopping, we just raided each other’s closets,” Kotwas said. “Most people wore black, some had short dresses or more simple prom dresses. There were some nice tops with nice skirts too.”

Expect more than just Dave Matthews or John Mayer; dance organizers have planned to play a broad array of music.

“We’ve requested certain artists and we think we have a range of stuff that most students would like,” Schlameuss said.

Although the dance is open to first-year students only, freshmen who would like to bring older friends or former high school sweethearts as their guests can bring guests who are upperclassmen or non-SU students, Schlameuss said.

For those freshmen who were unable to sneak their car on campus, buses will provide transportation to and from the OnCenter on Friday night.

“We have buses that are going to pick up students at various residence hall locations from 7:45 p.m. to 1 a.m.,” Bender said. The schedules will be posted in the dorms Wednesday with buses running all night long, he added.

Kotwas has fond memories of the event and encourages first-year students to attend.

“It was snowing that night, so it was really beautiful,” Kotwas said. “At that point of freshman year it was a good break to the usual Friday, Saturday night. I would definitely say to go, it’s something different than what you would expect at college. It’s a fun night you’ll actually remember.”

Published on February 27, 2003 at 12:00 pm