by Isabel Hall, staff writer

Students of HHS, get ready to boogie. Later this year, HHS may have its first ever Sadie Hawkins Dance. After years of girls waiting around to be asked to a dance, HHS may be giving girls the opportunity to do the asking.

Alex Lehman, senior, pitched the idea to the principal and Student Government.

The Sadie Hawkins dance is usually a less formal dance in which the girls ask the guys to the dance. In the U.S, this concept was popularized by establishing dance events where the woman invited a man of her choosing, instead of waiting for a man to ask her.

The first known event was held on November 9, 1938. Within a year, hundreds of similar events followed. By 1952, the event was reportedly celebrated at 40,000 known venues. It became an empowering event for women at high schools and college campuses, and the tradition continues to this day.

“I think we should have a Sadies dance because every other school around HHS, such as Eden Prairie, Wayzata, and Minnetonka, have multiple dances, and I thought we should incorporate another dance into our school because we only have Prom and Homecoming,” Lehman said.

The first thing Lehman did was set up a meeting with Ms. Patty Johnson, Principal.

“She was all for it. She told me if we could raise enough money and sell enough tickets it can for sure be a go,” Lehman said.

Lehman is also collaborating with the Student Government to organize the dance.

“The Student Government really likes the idea, so it is turning into one of their main priorities,” Lehman said.

However, student influence is important in making the dance a reality.

“If students want this dance to happen, they should make it known to Student Government,” said Mia Berman, senior and Leader of the Student Government.

In the next few weeks, Student Government will be posting Facebook, the Student Government Twitter (@HHSStudGov), and most likely the school website, asking questions about what students would like to see in this dance.

“Additionally, if students have any ideas, [they should] feel free to share them with the Student Government members, or attend a Student Government meeting which takes place every Wednesday morning at 7:10 in the Career Center,” Berman said.

The Student Government is still trying to figure out a date and a theme, and right now they are leaning towards the idea of it being a semi-formal, but it is still up for debate.

“I think the dance is a great idea. In the past few years, attendance of the Black Light Dance has decreased significantly. The proposed dance will replace black light as the winter dance most likely. Also, I have heard many complaints from the student body about Hopkins’ lack of a more formal dance, other than prom, and this would satisfy that demand,”  Berman said.

Other students have started to catch wind of the Sadie Hawkins dance proposal.

“I have a handful of friends who go to schools that hold a Sadie Hawkins Dance. They have told me it’s lots of fun and I think if our school had another dance besides Prom and Homecoming, it could be really fun for everyone,” said Sophie Holm, Junior.

Other students are not so keen on the idea.

“I think we should stick with the black light dance because I don’t like the idea of having a girl asking me to go, I would rather ask her,”  said Terrance Bowers, senior.

As of right now, it is undecided whether the Sadie Hawkins dance will be held or not, but it will be decided as soon as possible.