If your high-school prom was more “Carrie” than “Pretty In Pink,” here is your chance for a remake.
A Red Hook dance organization is throwing a prom-style event for adults on May 3, complete with spiked punch, a king and queen crowning, and a real high school gymnasium.
The ’80s-themed “Red Hook Prom” at South Brooklyn Community High School is a fund-raiser for Cora Dance, which offers pay-what-you-can dance classes, in addition to workshops and performances from its professional modern dance company.
“It is a way to celebrate what is unique and fun about Red Hook and to bring lots of people together for a great cause,” said Katie Dean, press and marketing director for Cora Dance.
The organization first came up with the idea for an adult prom in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, as a way to celebrate the neighborhood. The event proved so popular that the group decided to turn it into a yearly tradition.
This year, attendees will have the chance win prizes at a silent auction, with items such as restaurant gift certificates, dog care, and sports tickets up for grabs
Naturally, there will be no shortage of dancing, with performances by professionals from Cora Dance in addition to enthusiastic amateurs burning up the dance floor to music from DJ Robert Lux — better known as DJ Body Rock — who will spin ’80s tunes and take requests.
“I have personally been waiting all year to hear ‘Here I Go Again’ by Whitesnake and to slow-dance to ‘Hold On’ by Wilson Philips,” said Dean.
Guests will also have the opportunity to have their hair teased to an appropriately ’80s volume by a stylist from Park Slope’s Elements Hair Studio. The salon will come armed with six cans of Matrix Biolage Complete Control Hairspray — one of the hardest hold sprays on the market, according to one of its stylists.
“When you are creating gravity-defying styles from that decade, rock hard hairspray is an absolute necessity,” said Robert Santana.
In addition to big hair, Elements will also be providing makeup — which means tons of blue eye shadow, mascara, and black liquid eyeliner, explained Santana.
Dean said the throwback theme of the event fits well with Cora Dance’s mission.
“The company and the organization is really engaged with storytelling, and I think having an old-school prom opens the opportunity to tell stories about our past experiences and growing up,” she said. “The nostalgia of this is really fun and a way to connect with people.”
“Red Hook Prom” at South Brooklyn Community High School [173 Conover St. at Wolcott Street in Red Hook, (718) 858–2520, www.coradance.org]. May 3 at 7 pm. Pay-what-you-can ($20 minimum suggested).
