Student column: A night to remember

By Erika Reals

Photography students acted as paparazzi as fellow campers slowly poured onto the dance floor Tuesday night.

The DJ warmed up the growing crowd. The strobing, white light worked its magic as all styles of danced were observed, leading into a night I had been looking forward to all day.

Kurt Steinke, a Lindbergh High School senior, waved his hands awkwardly in the air, as his body moved in an Elvis-like fashion combining as a hybrid of a mime, clown and wizard. He danced on the tips of his toes and pointed at the people, trying to lure them as if casting a spell on students at the Flint Hills Publications Workshop dance.

An ice water station sat nearby to quench the thirst of students who had been well-worked on and off the dance floor. Non-dancers stood awkwardly to the side in the Holiday Inn ballroom, distinctively forming cliques from the beginning. Some over-dressed in formal dresses and skirts. Others came as they were, knowing by the end of the night they will look like they just ran a half marathon. Dancers frequently came back for a break, their faces red and sweaty and their breathing pattern finally slowing down. A few shots of water were consumed before going out for another round of unparalleled camp fun.

After my friends and I chilled by the water hole for a few minutes, we decided now was the time. Time to get jiggy with it.

We walked onto the square piece of wood in the middle of a carpeted room, also known as the dance floor and started what was soon to be known as a good night.

“I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas thumped on the speakers.

Tonight’s gonna be a good, good night.

Preoccupied during a dance solo, I saw from the corner of my eye the guy I wished were here from the beginning: Good ol’ Thomas Wittler. In cardboard form, that is.

Crowdsurf Tom!” I heard friends chant around me.

Tom skimmed over the mob-like dancers, the tips of their fingers holding up the lightweight friend while they shuffled their feet side to side, up and down.

From there, the dance competition took off with a bang. Various groups were formed as students chose the classmates with the most potential to bust a move, while others stood on the sidelines with either smiles or grotesque looks on their faces.

After about an hour and a half of a sweat and body odor consumed room, the campers and advisers reluctantly went their separate ways, already looking forward to the next year to come.

I’d say it was a good night too, Black Eyed Peas.

Erika Reals is a senior at Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School and a student in the advanced writing class at the Flint Hills Publications Workshop.