The Queer Community Coalition (QCC) hosted their annual spring dance this year in the Union Ballroom, with the theme being “Masquerade Ball”. Participants were encouraged to dress up in formal attire and masks, and join together as a community through dancing and conversation.
From 8:30 to 11:30pm, the ballroom was filled with students wearing everything from ball gowns and tuxedos to skirts and jeans. Colorful lights illuminated the decorated dancefloor as the DJ’s played familiar crowd-favorite songs and encouraged participants to sing and dance along.
“ASUW special projects funding for student organizations really only gives you that one big event,” said Koraline Wolfgang, QCC advisor.
“So they use it for the dance. And I think historically, it’s about how queer folks growing up in middle school or high school didn’t feel comfortable going to their dances, or they couldn’t go to their dance with how they identify.”
“There’s that kind of sense of grief that you didn’t get that [experience]. So this dance is always there to offer queer students that closure, and a celebration to that.”
The event was free to the public and was made possible by the QCC along with ASUW, and Shepard Symposium.
“We’ve been collaborating with the members of Shepards Symposium to make sure that everything went smoothly,” said Kai Yeager, who has been a QCC officer for 2 years.
“This was just a big interdisciplinary collaboration.”
Prior to the Masquerade Ball, the QCC hosted a prom inspired dance in the Union Ballroom for highschool students in the area. From 5pm to 8pm that evening, high schoolers in Laramie came to campus to participate in a prom with like-minded individuals.
The Art Museum on campus also hosted a craft party for the high school students before their dance, giving them the opportunity to create custom prom sashes before heading to the Union.
“I have a lot of friends who are involved with the QCC, and I heard about it [the event] through them, and me and my friends just decided to come and have a good time,” said Emma Jones, a UW student and dance participant.
“The vibes are really good. It feels like a really good space.”
“I hope more people will come next year, no matter if they’re part of the community or not. It’s an opportunity for people to come together,” said Jones.
“I think it’s good for all different types of people to have events where they feel welcome and they can have fun, without any pressure.”
