On the evening of March 6th, NDB juniors attended the much-anticipated Gatsby Ball. This decades-old tradition is held annually for the entire junior class, who, in line with their English and history curriculum, study the Jazz Age and read F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel “The Great Gatsby.”
This event gives students the opportunity to delve deeper into the specific lives of different groups of people during the past through dances, activities and outfits of the time.
“The Great Gatsby” explores variations of wealth in a time where people were stereotyped by their social class or wealth. Through this event, students were able to identify the shallowness that comes from the elite class in this time period, and understand why materialism is concerned through different characters. The main character, Jay Gatsby, is known for throwing elaborate parties in his mansion and correlating one’s worth with their wealth. Eventually, this is what leads to Gatsby’s demise.
By experiencing an event inspired by the Roaring ’20s, students are able to see these themes beyond the pages of the novel. The Gatsby Ball allows juniors to step into the social atmosphere of the era and better understand the culture, values and class dynamics that shape the story.
Juniors enjoyed getting the opportunity to experience a night similar to how one was spent in the 1920s. Throughout the night, the Serra High School jazz band performed live music, filling the room with the upbeat sounds that defined the Roaring ’20s and setting the atmosphere for a lively evening of dancing.
A highlight of the night was an interactive murder mystery in which teachers took on the roles of different characters, each acting as a suspect in the unfolding story. Students worked together to gather clues and determine who committed the crime, adding an engaging and theatrical element to the event while bringing the spirit of the era to life.
“It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed having the opportunity of being in character and dancing all night. The murder mystery at the end was a lot of fun,” said attendee Haley Langridge.
The ball was sponsored by the NDB Humanities Department who planned out the details and gave students the choice to dress up as one would in this age. Students were asked to fill out character sheets, giving them the opportunity to adopt a Jazz Age persona and come up with their own story.
Many students were especially excited to be able to express themselves through their chosen outfit of the ball and determine who they would most relate to or enjoy dressing as, whether it was a flapper, bootlegger, musician or immigrant.
Attendee Georgianna Drolapas said, “I really enjoyed Gatsby. It was really fun and it didn’t feel like a homework assignment. Dancing was really fun with my friends.”
The Gatsby Ball is a great tradition for juniors to learn about the Roaring ‘20s and express themselves through different ways. They can learn of different perspectives of individuals in this time period and gain a broader understanding of events.
