The University of Massachusetts Boston’s Annual Spring Ball, hosted and coordinated by Student Arts and Events Council (SAEC), proved to be the calm before the storm that is finals. Since the semester is coming to a close, it was highly necessary to have the Royal Spring Ball to dance the night away.
The end of a semester is a very stressful time for college students; this is because of final papers, presentations, and final exams. Spring Ball was a good event for students to blow off some steam before the final exam period begins. The ball took place at the Venezia Restaurant in Dorchester. The Venezia has a harbor view and a breathtaking view of the Boston skyline. At the event, students had the opportunity to go on a boat ride on the harbor and get a closer look at Boston. It was a warm night out on the harbor, so it felt good feeling the wind going through your hair and blowing against your face.
Students definitely came out all dressed in formal attire. The ladies looked stunning; the dresses ranged from little black dresses to bright colored prom dresses. The men also looked stunning in their suits and their varied selection of ties. Since the ball was a part of the Royal Week of Activities, it is safe to say that everyone looked like royalty.
The food was absolutely delicious. The options included a tossed salad, Caesar salad, pasta with tomato sauce, pasta with mixed vegetables, and selections of roasted beef and chicken. They also had a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Even though the food was good, many hurriedly consumed it in an effort to join the dance floor.
The DJ’s area was always filled with students making song requests. Even though the DJ was not able to play every song that was requested, they did a wonderful job keeping people on the dance floor, which was packed. So much so that at times, our little clique found itself dancing on the outskirts of the dance floor. Some of the ladies ditched their heels, dancing bare foot, and others brought flats to dance the night away with their dates, friends, classmates, and even strangers. The music featured an array of genres and artists. No matter the genre, whether it was 2000s throwbacks, Latin, dance hall/reggae, etc., the DJs were able to keep the crowd dancing.
As people gathered on the dance floor, patrons actively recorded Snapchat videos to show their friends what they were missing. It didn’t matter whether you knew the people on the dance floor or not, we all danced and recorded Snapchat videos together. Some with drinks in hand, friends by their sides, and other just singing and dancing to the music. As the night came to an end, the DJs ended with slow songs and a dedication to all graduating seniors.
While it was our first time attending Spring Ball, we think it is good that we have events like these where students can gather to de-stress and enjoy themselves with the company of their fellow schoolmates.