Togas, cowboy hats and flying brooms give way to fancy dresses and nifty suits. This year, Homecoming will be a formal event held in the Student Center on Oct. 25. The theme for the dance is film noir, a term for a French style black and white movie.

After discussing the pros and cons, the majority of ASB voted in favor of a formal Homecoming because they thought it would increase attendance.

“It was time to try something new because in the past we’ve had such low attendance at our dances,” said Homecoming Dance Committee Head junior Katie St. Claire.

Junior Laine Ratzer, the other Committee Head, said ASB members have been hearing talk amongst the student body about preference for a formal Homecoming.

“I think it’s going to be fun because more people from each grade is going to bring more energy,” Ratzer said.

The dress code for the dance is formal. ASB is encouraging attendees to wear black and white, or other neutral colors.

“You don’t have to wear tuxes and very fancy dresses, just nice clothes,” Ratzer said. “We’re encouraging dates, but Homecoming can also be just to go with your friends and have fun.”

In previous years, Homecoming has been a costumed dance held in the Binks Gym. This year, the dance will take place in the Student Center. The dance runs from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Students must arrive within the first hour and will be breathalyzed before granted entrance. Between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., students may not leave.

“Doing it in the gym, we felt like people would be less inclined to go,” Ratzer said. “At a different location, we felt that people would think about going and like it better.”

Snacks and drinks will be provided in the quad. Aside from dancing, activities include casino games, a photobooth and also a raffle.

“We have a problem with people leaving right after the hour mark,” St. Claire said.

“We’ll have the raffle near the end so people can stay and wait to get a prize if they do.”

Senior Ryan Siu will be DJing the dance. He said he is excited for the opportunity and hopes people will enjoy the music he plays.

“I’ll definitely play music that I personally like but then also play the top 100 Billboard and take requests from others,” Siu said.

Because underclassmen cannot attend Winter Ball or Prom unless they get invited, this will give them the opportunity to experience a formal dance without having to wait until they are upperclassmen.

“But I think that’s why formalness is so fun, because you wait until you’re an upperclassman and then you get to go,” senior Oliver Groeneveld said.

Nonetheless, freshman Genevieve Raushenbush said she and her friends are all excited to attend their first high school dance, especially because it is formal.

“I’ve never had a formal dance so that will be fun to experience,” Raushenbush said. “It’s great and cool to shake things up a bit.”

St. Claire said this will serve as a test year because ASB has not held a formal Homecoming in a long time.

“We have no idea how it’ll turn out, but we hope it’ll turn out well,” St. Claire said.