It's that time of year again ~
- where the guys ready their most formal and/or snazzy shirts, get their shoes shined, and dust off those slacks
- where the ladies hunt endlessly for gorgeous gowns and divine dresses, complement them with heels, and dig their drawers for accessories
- and where the student council are busy bustling about making sure that everything is tip top to a tee.
what am i ranting about? what else. the HMC Annual Ball is just around the corner. This event, the one that everyone looks forward to, brings together the new and the old to dine, dance and distract themselves from their everyday lives. Its the only few hours where people can forget their worries, look and feel extravagant, and really show their colours.
Walking down the long corridor of HELP's main block, you can often stumble upon a group of girls giggling over this event; deciding when to go dress hunting, visualising the Ball and pinpointing certain dates that they would fancy. The guys, obviously not incessantly talking about their attire, are sometimes silently wondering who and how to ask their intended partner to accompany them for the evening. (Keep reading for tips on how achieve this)
Last year, the HMC Annual Ball was held at The Legend Hotel. The theme was C'est Magnifique: A Bohemian Storm is Brewing. The hall was vibrant and still held a sense of elegance with its decorations and setting. The smiles on everyone's faces complemented their attire and the food was praiseworthy. Performances kept us all entertained and livened up the evening. Of course the opening of the dance floor was the highlight of the night, where the music made us sweat as we swayed, danced, grooved, shuffled, ripped the floor, or whatever kids are calling it these days.
This year, if you don't already know (which you should because it's EVERYWHERE on our campus), our ball's theme is
BLACK TiE & DiAMONDS
its not JUST an affair...
and NO, this does NOT mean that you have to wear a BLACK TiE!!
Its simply indicates that your attire should be FORMAL. Many students have come up to us enquiring whether we had to LiTERALLY wear a black tie.
the venue of the ball is at the PRINCE HOTEL
It will take place on the 2nd of November 2007
PRICES for the tickets are displayed on the POSTERS around college, so keep your eye out for them!!
Purchase your tickets SOON, which are on sale and can be bought from the student council.
Other details are also available on our posters, or simply approach student council members and we will gladly be of assistance.
If you are still not sure what this event is all about, or whether you should go, don't hestitate to enquire. Go ahead and ask our promoters as well, you know, the noisy ones wearing the big cardboard with painting of the tux and asking you to contribute to the LOOSE CHANGE ANNUAL BALL DRIVE.
What is that?? The Loose Change Annual Ball Drive is a fundraising drive that helps fund the ball. What do you do?? Just chip in your loose change!! 1sen, 10sen or any small contribution can make a major difference. Just be ready when we come up to you with a red box and start badgering :P
It's the time to make necessary plans, book your appointments at salons and grab your dates.
On the topic of dates, its not compulsory to bring one, but it is always a prominent factor when the word BALL or PROM is mentioned, and obviously to spice up the evening.
Existing couples will be attending with each other (hopefully) and single guys and girls may opt for a date. But come on, realistically, it's easy to say "i'm going to have a date for the Ball" but can be very difficult when it comes to the actual proposal to the intended date. For those who may have problems and are not sure of what to do, here are some pointers, be it guy or girl.
How To Ask Someone To The Ball
STEP ONE
Is your intended dateless?
Obviously, asking a person who has a boyfriend or girlfriend at college is not too wise. If your potential candidate is single, and has no existing date for the ball (to the best of yor knowledge) then it is safe. Frankly, it would be quite a disappointment to muster up the confidence to ask someone only to hear the reply, "Sorry, but _____ has already asked me"
STEP TWO
Location and timing.
Choose a quiet location and appropriate time to pop the question. Ask him/her when they are not with a large group of people, and avoid asking a prime getaway times (i.e. asking someone right before class starts could be used a reason to avoid answering at the moment, which can be painstaking at times).
STEP THREE
Preparation.
Prepare yourself before you approach him/her so that you won't totally space out. Try practising in front of a mirror if you must :P If you are nervous, deep breaths.
STEP FOUR
Don't oversell your proposal.
You know in movies when a guy comes up to a girl and starts ranting on and on, unsure of himself, and babbling rubbish when asking her out? And she finds it very cute and says yes? reminder: that's not reality. Try not to incessantly propose. Simply remind your intended that the ball is approaching and express your desire to attend the dance with him or her.
STEP FIVE
Positive response?
Hopefully, if all goes well and your reply is positive, tell your date that you will be in contact to discuss logistics. Like if you're paying for her, or if you're picking him up and the like.
TIPS AND WARNINGS
! As with all date solicitations, be prepared that your intended may reject you, whether rudely or with a simple smile and a "no" (hopefully the latter). Should this occur, handle it gracefully: smile and maybe muster a "thank you" if possible and walk away. DON'T run away or show tears or seethe at any point.
GOOD LUCK!
