Students in go-go boots and bright colors filled the dance floor as hits from ABBA and other disco-era artists played at the Blood Ball, a long-standing Columbia tradition that drew nearly 200 people this year.
Hosted by the Student Engagement and Leadership, the annual spring dance took place on Friday night, April 3, at the Student Center and featured a “Friday Night Fever” theme selected by students through a vote on Columbia’s Engage app.
“We had a different theme that was similar to disco, but we felt that Friday Night Fever was very like a warm tone and an emphasis on disco music, so that’s what we look for,” Jenna Davis, president of the Student Government Association and a senior fine arts major, said.
The event traces its roots to 1890, when Mary A. Blood, the ball’s namesake, and Ida Morey Riley, the college’s first co-presidents, founded the Columbia School of Oratory.
The dance has been held during the spring semester most years. It was cancelled in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Friday night, the space incorporated orange and pink decorations, a balloon wall and warm lighting surrounding the dance floor. Music from the 1970s dominated the playlist with a few modern hits mixed in.
“There’s a lot of space so people can be comfortable, but I feel like the music that we have tonight has really made the night so special,” Davis said.
The event featured a best-dressed contest, where the contestants walked a runway to show off their outfits. Some of them wore bell-bottom pants and groovy prints, coupled with boots or chunky-helled shoes.
Eliot Cymbalist, a first-year fashion design major who participated in the contest, said the event created an inviting atmosphere.
“I’ve been finding random groups to dance with — overall, a really fun and welcoming environment,” Cymbalist said.
Hugo Westreich, a sophomore theatre major, said the costumes helped spark conversation.
“I’ve met a ton of new people just by asking people about their outfits,” Westreich said. “Outfits tell a story.”
For some students, like transfer student and acting for stage and screen major Emily Ortiz, attending the Blood Ball was a new experience.
“This is my first year being here and this has been the best party I’ve been to,” Ortiz said.
Other students like senior dance major Andy Anisco appreciated the outfits people wore to match the Friday Night Fever theme.
For example, Anisco had on a colored blazer, much like other attendees. Some other students had on flared pants or bright floral colors.
“I like the vibe, and people came in with really dope costumes,” Anisco said. “I think everyone is having a great time.”
Copy edited by Katie Peters
