BYUSA hosted its annual Homecoming dance on Friday, Oct. 20, with the retro-inspired theme 'Dancing in the Moonlight' to help students embrace the Homecoming spirit.
Madison Hale, a BYU junior in the Experience Design and Management program and the BYUSA formal dance director, said the main goal of the event was to foster connection among BYU students.
“We were really striving when planning this event to have student engagement and connection … we also want to give them a really fun BYU memory that they can bond over and just strengthen that relationship,” Hale said.
The dance was hosted at the Sleepy Ridge Wedding Venue and Golf Course and featured music from a live DJ, dancing, refreshments, desserts from 'Nothing Bundt Cakes' and a photo booth.
'We really tend to focus on increasing inclusivity, making sure that each student belongs, and I feel like we targeted that especially this year,' Brooklyn Barlow, activities area assistant and a senior in the psychology program, said. “We really tried to strive to make sure that each person feels loved and that they belong here on campus. So that is something that we try to do is be more at BYUSA.'
After previous years of ticket sellouts, BYUSA was able to increase student participation by increasing the number of tickets available for students.
“Last year we had a limited number of ticket sales for this dance, and so this year we really sought to increase. So we're excited for what we've had to offer, and we love how many students have really enjoyed this event,' Dallin Bundy, BYUSA vice president of activities, said.
Bundy shared he is grateful this year's Homecoming formal was able to accommodate more students and allow more people to enjoy the event.