Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
This year I am in charge of decorating the Grade 8's dance. We chose a beach theme, but my partner in crime and I are having a few obstacles with trying to have the gym looking good. Since this is basically a graduation dance, we would like to make it really fun and would like the setting to look quite impressive. Any beach-themed decorating ideas would be VERY helpful.
Check out the Oriental Trading Company (you can find them online) they have great inexpensive decorations, and I think I have even seen inflatable palm trees! Or make ones with those big rolls of craft paper and appliance cardboard boxes spliced together. Maybe get a hold of a rental place and get patio style tables with the umbrellas, and use the folding chairs you have on hand. If you are serving beverages, maybe set it up like one of those beachside bars (I think if you watch any old beach movies, they may pop up, esp in Caribbean) With the lights fairly dim, maybe get an evening effect? If it is in a gym/auditorium, you could put up fake waves along the edge of the stage, and set up the palm trees there for more support.
For my beach-themed b/day party, one of the decorations I made were giant thongs/flipflops. I used brightly coloured A4 paper and drew large thong shapes and used contrasting coloured strips for the straps. I stuck these all over windows & they looked fab.
When my son was in 9th grade they had a spring dance that had a beach theme. One of the mom's brought in a bunch of her own houseplants (Caladiums, a rubber tree and several different kinds of palms) We arranged these in one corner of the room on a fairly large tarp.(This will help when it comes time to clean up!) We left a little room behind it so we could place a small kiddie pool with about 2" of water in it. On either side if the pool we placed an old milk crate, on one we put a small fan pointed at the surface of the water. On the other crate we placed one of those old fashioned light wheels they used to use for aluminum christmas trees, also pointed down at the water. In front of the plants, to help camoflage all this stuff, we got a couple of yards of burlap, in a sandy beige color and drapped it around the pots to sort of resemble a sand dune. Then just to finish it off we emptied about 5 or 6 bags of play sand over the edges of the burlap and out a little way, making our own little beach! You can usually find a lot of things like sea shells, little fishermans nets, bucket & shovel sets to embellish your beach, at places like Hobby Lobby, Michael's, even sometimes at Walmart, possibly even at the Dollar stores.
I am trying to get ideas on how to decorate my front windows for my tanning salon. Can you help me?
I need dance theme ideas. I'm president of student council and yearbook. We always have dances and I need to come up with themes.
By Josifer
A 60's dance is always good. Poodle skirts and ducktail hair styles, great fun.
Breakfast at Tiffany's, Hippie Peace and Love, Surf's Up, The Force Be With You or use names of songs like Good Golly Miss Molly, Penny Lane, Revolution, Let's Dance and build the chosen theme based on the era, subject, artist ;-)
Best to start with a list of recent themes already used, like within the last 4 or 5 years so you don't reuse any themes too soon. How about some based on movies like American Graffitti, Grease, Stomp etc. U could also try some based on eras like the Roaring Twenties, Prohibition era, Dirty Thirties(maybe all attendees for that one could bring food for a food bank or something) There is also themes based on classic disney themes and animation of all kinds.
I am hosting our 6th grade dance and I need some ideas for the theme of the dance.
By Sandra F
I have hosted three sixth grade dances and these are some of the themes we considered.
-Glow Party- use black lights and have everyone dress in white
Try an around the world& traveling dance! or a glow in the dark funk dance! Try not to do something to lovey Dovey cause it will make the kids feel awkward.
I'm on the student council of my school. My friend and I want to do a circus/carnival themed dance. We need games for the dance that are not childish. And we need some fun games that high school kids would like. Also, what kind of foods could we have?
Is it a good idea to require students to buy tickets to play the games, just like in a real circus/carnival? What kind of prizes should we have for all the winners?
By lalala from dfghjk
Oriental Trading has several sharp-looking carnival-type games, such as knocking over milk bottles with a ball, spin the wheel to win a prize, etc. Our church does a Hallelujah Night celebration every October 31st, and we add to that a fish pond, dart board, cupcake walk, bean bag toss, floating ducks to toss rings around their necks and win a prize, etc. The prizes don't have to be fabulous, but if you are going to spend a lot of money on them you should definitely sell tickets to these events to help cover expenses. Other ideas might be a dunk tank, basketball throw, etc. I know some of our ideas are young for teens, but others would work great. I hope you have a blast!
By the way, you can rent a hot dog machine, snow cone machine and cotton candy machine.
Our school dance is in 2 weeks, we already have a DJ and all that stuff. We just need a dance theme to work with, it's 9-12th grade and alumni, we want it to be a casual wear, no date dance. Any ideas?
By Lisa from UT
Electronic communication seems the norm these days for anything to do with relationships. It might be a quick and easy decor to make screens out of huge poster board (Hobby Lobby) that mimic the screens of cell phones and computers.
Dancin' through the Decades! Any era can be represented by the dress and hairstyles-Should be fun!Gives everyone a chance to dress up in the style of the time they wish they could have (or DID) live in.
Greasy hair and rolled up jeans and poodle skirts 50's
Hippie tie dye and peace symbols 60's
Polyester everything (OMG-flashbacks-no! no!) 70's
Big big hair and shoulder pads 80's
Just to name a few.
I am homeschooled with a big group. We've had several past dances; all failed because of dresscode and decorations. This year we're thinking of a black and white themed dance. Any suggestions to make this actually good?
If you want B& W theme...why not REQUIRE the kids wear white or very light colors and use black lights in a major part of the room? Might be wild and quirky!
If I held a B&W themed event I would show some old cool B&W movies in one corner and ask the kids to dress as their favorite STARS...the other kids might have to guess who they are portraying. Winner gets a small prize?
This might be a good event around Halloween!
I'd serve b&w drinks and food too..(chocolate/vanilla shakes or floats, hard boiled eggs, white cheddar macaroni salad with black olives,....you get the idea just do some research for black and white foods online yourself) Of course look for songs that highlight either black and white or Opposites.
Hope you all have fun!
I am chairing the high school's Winterball which is a step up from a Homecoming. We need to incorporate snowflakes and stars. What should the title of our theme be?
By M
I am looking for a dance theme, which is basically "Colors of Celebration" and I am blank on this. Please help. It's a banking organisation and we are looking for maximum participation. Which involves higher levels too.
By Glory
Green, black, white, silver and gold....and paper that has the texture/look of bills.
We would like to have a western dance, but don't have a theme.
Can you help?
By wendy from Lancaster, SC
OK Corral is the first thing that comes to mind. A ho down / barn dance. Maybe have a harvest festival type of theme.
I need casual dance themes. Any ideas? Thank you.
Natalie from Charleston, MO
You didn't state an age range, but no matter who is involved, a good old-fashioned "Sock Hop" is fun. Guests can be invited to dress the part if they want. Hope this helps. Have fun.
I am thinking of doing a Hollywood theme or ice colors (silver, ice blue, ice purple, etc.) Does anyone have any ideas what I could incorporate into either theme that is low cost? It's my school's a 6th-8th grade May dance. The dance is on May 4th! It's also my b-day on may 4th, so I want this to be a good dance.
I reckon for the ice theme you could make lots of snowflakes very cheaply from card or paper. Use white (or spray them silver or use fake snow) and you could hang them from branches sprayed white or scatter them on tables. Kitchen foil (store brand) would also be a cheap way to incorporate silver. If you were making centre-pieces you could spray cheap pots with silver paint and hang the snowflakes from branches in those!
Good luck, it's sounds like fun!
I need a theme for a republic day dance.
By Uma from Kirandul
I'm am the chair of my high school's Sweetheart Dance for Valentine's Day. I need theme ideas, as well as, suggestions on color schemes that aren't all pink.
By Seth
This page is about middle school dance theme ideas. When planning a school dance, you want to choice a theme that is fun, easy and inexpensive to decorate for.
This is a page about a "Spring into Friendship" dance theme. Planning a school dance entails deciding on a theme and then creating decorations and even food to go with it. For a spring dance start by thinking about the bright colors of the season.
Decorating and dressing up for a dance with the theme of an award's ceremony can make for a memorable occasion. This is a page about red carpet dance theme.
