By Dalton Sanchez ‘15

Traditionally, Sherwood annually has the homecoming dance, which is held for all students, and prom, which is meant for the Senior Class. In accordance with these dances comes the stereotype that the boy is expected to invite and pay for the girl. This upcoming semester Sherwood will put a twist on traditional high school dances with its first ever Sadie Hawkins dance, where girls will ask boys.

The dance will be held on Friday, February 27, in the cafeteria, and tickets will be sold in school starting Monday, February 9 as well as online on the Sherwood website. Preparations for the dance are largely being taken care of by the Washington Wizards organization, which will be providing light shows, a DJ, prizes and more for the event. The Wizards organization has sponsored dances at numerous high schools in the past, including Blake and Northwest.

The SGA formed the idea to throw a Sadie Hawkins dance from a request from an Advisory representative. After discussing the idea with SGA sponsors Christine McKeldin and Catina Wist, the SGA met with Principal Bill Gregory, who agreed to let the dance happen.

“We’re all excited for the dance and can’t wait to see its success,” said SGA President Katarina Stephanos. “This dance will be a great opportunity for all the students to have one last ‘hoorah’ before finishing out another great school year.”

The tradition of the girl-ask-boy dance originated from a comic strip that first was published in 1937. In the famous cartoon Li’l Abner, there was a designated day in November when unmarried women could chase bachelors around the town in hopes of catching them for marriage, a social commentary on the traditional ideas of marriage. As the comic gained popularity, a holiday inspired by the perpetually single character Sadie Hawkins was created. Schools across the country drew inspiration from the quirky new holiday and began throwing dance events, named after Sadie Hawkins herself, in which the girl asks a boy of her choosing instead of demurely waiting for a boy to ask her out to the dance.