A Lion Tamer and Bearded Lady Meet in Clayton Gym for an Unforgettable Night at the Carnival

From string lights cascading from the high ceiling to student DJs, a magician and juggler walking through the crowd, a tarot card reader and the movie The Greatest Showman playing on a big screen, the newly elected members created a spectacular carnival evening. 

To pull off an unforgettable night that would rival and improve upon previous fall dances, students and faculty co-sponsors Ali McLafferty and Gretchen Young started with planning ahead. Vice President Annabel Furlong ’25 explained that this year’s goal was to entice students to stay longer and dance more. Furlong explained that when students come for “30 minutes” and leave “to go somewhere else” it’s hard for a critical mass to develop on the dance floor. 

Furlong and other class officers decided good music was the key to solving this issue, and who better to get the music right and pack the dance floor than students themselves? The Student Government hired student DJs Dawson Burrell ’25 and Ella Stewart ’26, who spent hours developing playlists. Burrell, who has DJ’d for parties, learning from his dad, said the Fall Dance was his first “really serious gig.” He and Ella put in the work to bump songs and create scenes with colored light channels that seemed to direct student energy.

The big night hit a crescendo when Burrell Stewart played the student-requested hit Chappell Roan’s “Hot To Go.” Burrell said that was the moment everyone “went crazy.” He gave major props to Stewart for telling him “You need to play it, trust me.” 

There was plenty to see and do off the dance floor as well-including faculty members in disguise who elevated the carnival theme. History instructor Luis Murillo dressed up as a clown, History instructor Anna Armentrout was a mime, Gretchen Young took on the role of a lion tamer and Ali McLafferty was the bearded lady. Murillo said he chuckled after hearing a student say, “that clown looks a lot like Dr. Murillo.” 

“Dr Murillo as the clown. Dr. Armentrout as the mime, I didn't expect that at all. I thought that was great because it helped with the scene we were trying to create,” said Class President Finn Springer ’25.

“The DJ's did a good job playing good songs and requested songs. Everyone was having a good time because I could hear compliments on everyone's outfits and hugs back and forth between friends,” said Setara Manasa ’28, who ran around all evening capturing photos of the energy and action on and off the dance floor.

The class officers commended the “incredible” leadership of year’s faculty co-sponsors Ali McLafferty and Gretchen Young. From beginning to end, it was a team effort by the Executive Committee and all members of the Student Government who dedicated hours of hard work to sponsor a successful dance that created a lifetime of Spartan memories.

A special thank you to St. Stephen's student Setara Manasa ’28 who provided the photos of the fall dance that accompany this story.