On Friday, April 19, NDB students attended what is considered the most anticipated night of the school year: Aquacades. Students dressed in their class colors and competed in deck and pool routines at the annual after-school spirit event, determined to be crowned the champions of the competition.
The theme of this year’s Aquacades was “Decades,” meaning each class voted on a past decade to represent as well as a music genre, with the seniors choosing the 2000s and pop, the juniors selecting the 1990s and rhythm & blues, the sophomores deciding upon the 1980s and rock and the freshmen being left with the 1970s and country. These categories offered guidance as participants structured their routines with such music, commonly pairing it with the genre’s songs from their decade.
The festivities began early in the week, as students dressed up for certain theme days during the spirit week leading up to the big event. Then, on Friday afternoon, a rally was held as a precursor to the night. The Associated Student Body (ASB) introduced new games like “Family Feud” and “Just Dance” and even incorporated staffulty members into the activities.
Then, once the school day had concluded, there was a two-hour gap before the class picnics began for students to get dressed up in spirit gear and rehearse their routines. While dinner was provided, students mainly took this opportunity to pose for pictures with friends, covered from head to toe with clothing and face paint in their sister and class colors.
Following this, each class executed a class entrance in the small gym before watching the cheer team’s sister class performances. This occurred in front of the Aquacades judges, who were alumnae excitedly awaiting the evening as a way of remembering their own high school experiences.
The actual contest occurred on the pool deck and in the pool itself, and students watched their classmates’ routines, cheering them on in an effort to support them, while also proving their school spirit.
“For like the last three years I’ve always just watched [from the stands], and it’s always been super exciting. But, I think as a dancer … it was really nerve-wracking at first. But, just seeing everybody else cheering for you and being super encouraging was really uplifting and made me have much more fun than just watching,” said senior performer Milan Pineda.
Each class had competitors in each of the deck and pool categories. All deck routines involved a group, while the swim performances were all different, first involving a solo swimmer, then a duet and finally a group.
Although these were the main entertainment of the night, classes were also judged on backdrops that had been created before the event as well as overall spirit, which took into account their enthusiasm on the pool deck as well as their class entrances.
Between routines, the NDB staffulty performed their own. This year, they had voted on their mascot to be the Owls and their color as yellow. Although they were not competing, this new tradition is special for many as it allows all attendees a moment of excitement and gives the staffulty the chance to appreciate the occasion.
“I know [from] watching you guys that this is something you’re gonna cherish for years and years, and you and your friends are still going to be able to do your Aquacades routines,” said English Department Chair Sarah Boragno ‘02. “I think, as a teacher, I feel very lucky to be able to experience this with students that I care about, as opposed to just like watching it as an alumna.”
The last act of the night was ASB’s. The six members incorporated all four musical genres and represented each decade in a ten-minute long routine, which was the longest of the night.
Afterward, students waited anxiously for the results of this year’s Aquacades competition, each hoping their class had pulled off a win. When it was finally announced that the seniors had won for the second year in a row, there was much cheering from the Dragons, while the other three classes already began making plans for next year.
