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64-469: A prom is a dance party of high school students. Prom , Proms or The Prom may also refer to: Prom At a prom, a "Prom King" and a "Prom Queen" may be revealed. These are honorary titles awarded to students elected in a school-wide vote prior to the prom. Other students may be honored with inclusion in a prom court . The selection method for a prom court is similar to that of homecoming queen/princess, king/prince, and court. Inclusion in

128-534: A debutante ball or debs may also be held. In Poland and Lithuania, high schools organize a " studniówka " (lt. "Šimtadienis"). The term "prom" has become more common in the United Kingdom and Canada because of the influence of American films and television shows, such as Grease . In South Africa, this event is widely known as a matric dance / matric farewell as students in their 12th year of school are called matric students. In South Asia, its equivalent

192-574: A flash mob , wearing a fursuit , graffitiing national park land, and using a hot-air balloon . Promposals, due to their flashy nature, often include a social media aspect like livestreaming, taking and posting videos, and other forms of memorializing on social media platforms. Champagne parties, also known as "send-offs," have become a prominent pre-prom tradition in the United States. These celebrations typically take place before high school proms and serve as elaborate gatherings that precede

256-424: A "graduation ball" (often abbreviated as "grad ball" or simply "ball"). The associated student body generally organizes the event. Usually, a prom king and queen are chosen. The basis for the king and queen judgment is the beauty and the fashion of the nominee, not the popularity. In Singapore, proms are held at the near end of a senior year for secondary schools or tertiary institutions. Proms are normally held after

320-452: A couple of dances due to the influence of American culture and movies in India. In Pakistan, there is a prom or farewell function that takes place at the end of the college academic year. Students dress in formal attire. The event ends with a photography session with the graduation. In Afghanistan, there is a lunch party organized by the graduating students and called "graduation party." This

384-544: A cultural phenomenon, stoking passions and rivalries, and refashioning the sense of what a school party should be. More than 85 percent of schools in Britain hold school Proms, which range from no-frills dinners in school halls to tailor-made extravaganzas in five-star hotels with such extras as ice- cream vans and photo booths. Schools in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland predominantly hold their prom, or school formal , at

448-552: A date. The school director and the 12th-grade teachers are also sometimes invited. There is usually an afterparty at a dance club. Some people even organize a second afterparty. After the prom night, students usually go on an excursion together for 3 to 5 days. The popular destinations are the Black Sea coast and Turkey. The event is often associated with excess in drinking, drugs, sex, and lavish nouveau-riche style of dressing and parading (there are families that would spend as much as

512-471: A joint event. The income is often used to finance a collective voyage of the students after the exams. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia and Serbia, maturalna večer , maturska večer or matursko veče , as graduation night, is the event held at the end of the senior year. In Croatia, it is sometimes held in January or February. In Denmark, the prom is called galla and takes place before

576-634: A junior/senior prom as a banquet instead of a dance. Typically, students still dress in formal attire and attend as couples. In recent years, American teens have started asking celebrities or famous models to their proms. After the prom, parents or a community may host a prom after-party , afterglow or post-prom at a restaurant, entertainment venue, or a student's home. Other traditions often include trips to nearby attractions, such as amusement parks , regional or local parks, or vacation houses. Some of these post-prom events are chaperoned and some are unsupervised. Many post-proms (after-prom events) are at

640-480: A meal may be served. By the early 21st century, prom has become a multi-billion-dollar business in the United States, with each family spending hundreds to even thousands of dollars for the occasion. Some high schools allow only the graduating class ( seniors ) to have a prom. Some schools also allow grade 11 ( juniors ) to have a prom, and in some cases, there is a combined junior/senior prom. Some American high schools that do not allow school-sponsored dances will host

704-745: A naming ceremony at the Pentagon for the aircraft carrier CVN-78, which was officially named the Gerald R. Ford . That same day, Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter announced that Bales had been named the carrier's ceremonial sponsor. On November 14, 2009, Bales participated in the keel laying for the ship. On June 11, 2007, she delivered remarks in Washington at the unveiling of the U.S. Postal Service's commemorative stamp honoring President Ford. In July 2007, Bales represented her mother at

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768-443: A necklace. Traditionally, girls wear perfume and make-up such as eyeshadow, lipstick, mascara, and blush. Girls also traditionally wear a corsage , given to them by their dates, and girls give boys matching boutonnières to be worn on their lapels . By the 2000s, the clothes girls wear to prom have become more revealing due to the influence of celebrities and the mass media. A "promposal" (a portmanteau of "prom" and "proposal")

832-400: A prom court may be a reflection of popularity of those students elected and their level of participation in school activities, such as clubs or sports. The prom queen and prom king may be given crowns to wear. Members of the prom court may be given sashes to wear and photographed together. Similar events, which may be locally inspired by debutante balls , take place in many other parts of

896-412: A salon. Prom couples then gather at a park, garden, or their own and their dates' houses for single and group photographs. Prom attendees may rent limousines or party buses to transport groups of friends from their homes to the prom venue. Some schools host their proms at hotel ballrooms, banquet halls, or other venues where weddings typically take place. The dance itself may have a band or DJ. At prom,

960-462: A silly show involving school or a parody. In the evening, students head to a rented club to party. This involves dancing, singing, and plenty of beer to get a taste of fraternity life. Sometimes even teachers join the party to show that they too have a wild side. In the Netherlands, households where a child who has passed their high school exams often hang the student's backpack on a flagpole which

1024-806: A teenager attending the Holton-Arms School in Bethesda, Maryland , she held her senior prom , for the class of 1975, in the East Room of the White House. She served as official White House hostess when her mother was hospitalized for breast cancer. Ford enrolled in Mount Vernon College for Women (now part of the George Washington University ) in northwest Washington, D.C., in 1975 when her father

1088-423: A theme as dresscode, while others go for the traditional outfit: blue jeans, a black cotton jacket, a black hat (with a red or blue ribbon), and a whistle around the neck. Some even paint their faces and some seniors also carry a spray can (shaving cream or other fluids) to "attack" the non-seniors with. A noisy march through town is also part of the gig. Later during the day, students perform an act at school, usually

1152-415: A time, they operated a private security company in Washington. They have two daughters, Tyne Mary Vance (born 1980) and Heather Elizabeth Vance (born 1983). Susan and Charles Vance were divorced in 1988. Susan married attorney Vaden Bales in 1989, from whom she was divorced in 2018. In Betty Ford's Betty – A Glad Awakening , her mother credits Susan with having orchestrated an intervention in 1982 after

1216-770: A year's salary on their son or daughter' s night). The media regularly criticize it, deploring the decadence of morals. In the Czech Republic, the last year in Gymnasium is celebrated with maturitní ples ("graduation ball"). This ball takes place before exams are taken, usually in January or February, the traditional season for balls during the Fasching (e.g., List of balls in Vienna ). Normally, balls are formal but modern elements are included, too. The students invite their parents, other relatives, and friends to come to

1280-416: Is a farewell party. Variation exists between different dialects with regard to whether prom is used with the definite article or not—e.g., whether one says "go to the prom" or "go to prom". In the early days of high school proms, the nighttime dance served a function similar to a debutante ball . Early proms were times of firsts: the first adult social event for teenagers; the first time taking

1344-535: Is a popular pre-prom tradition where a student asks another to go to the prom with them using some (usually elaborate) method and extra fanfare. A promposal is distinct from the normal prom ask, which typically includes the question, "Will you go to prom with me?" without additional spectacle. Promposals may include concepts and materials from posters, confetti, and balloons to the more viral, elaborate plans that give promposals their extravagant reputation. Examples include spelling "Prom?" with pepperoni on pizza, organizing

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1408-453: Is attached to the front of the house. In Bulgaria, the ball is called abiturientski bal and is held at the end of 12th grade, when you are aged 18/19. Preparations for the ball begin at the end of the 11th grade, because students are supposed to organize the whole event. It is celebrated in May, mainly on the 23rd, 24th, or 25th, after finishing exams. Students can bring a date to the event which

1472-456: Is followed by the "after-party" which is celebrated at another venue (usually a club) with no parents and no teachers. Costs for renting out the venue are covered by selling tickets to outsiders and the party is usually planned by the graduating classes themselves. In Hong Kong, prom culture is inherited from the western countries and is generally called a ball, such as Christmas Ball. This usually takes place during Christmas and summer break. This

1536-481: Is more popular in the secondary education stage rather than in universities. Schools, excluding international schools, holding proms are usually single-sex schools where normally the student unions in the schools will cooperate with each other in organizing the event. In recent years, more and more individual unions got united and formed different student unions associations so as to organize large-scale events including large joint-school proms. Except for those proms within

1600-460: Is mostly seen in the university level graduation after the 16th class with a bachelor's degree, this day all the university seniors, faculty members, and professors are invited as honors. There is no mingling of males and females due to strict adherence to the Islamic codes. In Bangladesh, an event called 'Rag Day' is held at the end of 10th grade and 12th grade. There the school authority decorates

1664-415: Is said, "could be as much as some people's weddings". The magazine saying this elaborates: "Many parents will be torn between wanting to spoil their youngsters and wanting to resist the extravagance of handing over thousands of rands for a dress or suit that will probably only be worn once." In Zambia, private schools have a "leavers' dance/dinner" that is planned out by the grade 11 class and takes place on

1728-453: Is usually held in a restaurant or a club. Usually, before the main event there is a big gathering in front of the high school's building, where graduates count to 12 (as in 12 grades) and take photos with each other before going to the restaurant called izprashtane ("farewell send off"). At the main event in the restaurant/hotel, there is music, usually pop and retro. Students are free to dance with whomever they want, even if they have come with

1792-649: The Epistle of James during the funeral service at the Washington National Cathedral, and her daughter Tyne Berlanga offered one of the prayers during the funeral service at Grace Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids. In addition, on January 1, she assisted her mother in receiving dignitaries and official visitors who had come to Blair House , the presidential guest house in Washington, to pay their respects. On January 16, 2007, Bales spoke at

1856-568: The 1930s and 1940s, historians, including Meghan Bretz, believe proms may have existed at colleges as early as the late 19th century. The journal of a male student at Amherst College in 1894 recounts an invitation and trip to an early prom at neighboring Smith College for women. The word prom at that time may have been a fancy description for an ordinary junior or senior class dance, but prom soon took on larger-than-life meaning for high school students. Proms worked their way down incrementally from college gatherings to high school extravaganzas. In

1920-546: The 1970s, school discos had been another tradition of semi-formal events being held at various times of the year, in particular during the Christmas period, although not all secondary schools would allow such events. During the 2000s, school proms became common at UK schools, apparently due to the influence of US TV shows. The Daily Telegraph reported in 2012 that: elaborate 'passing out' celebrations for Year 11 students (aged 15–16) and Year 12 (aged 16–17) have become

1984-769: The Ford family became concerned with her drinking, addictions and behavior. In 1984, Bales and her mother, Betty Ford, helped launch National Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a joint appearance in an ad campaign. She and her second husband lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma , after their marriage on July 25, 1989. In 1997, they moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico , where they lived for nearly 12 years before returning to Tulsa in 2009. She has since divorced and relocated to McKinney, Texas . In 2010, at age 53, Bales went into sudden cardiac arrest while exercising on an elliptical machine. She had no prior knowledge that she had heart disease. Bales says she

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2048-468: The Philippines, proms are popular in high schools. Prom usually takes place in the junior and senior years of high school (especially grades 9 to 12), normally around February or March. Proms are commonly known as JS prom , or, junior-senior prom. Conversely, if a high school has separate dances for juniors and seniors, the term "prom" is reserved for the juniors, and the dance for the seniors is called

2112-536: The Saturday after the Friday of their graduation ceremony. The dance is planned for the grade 12 class as well as the upper sixth form class and is normally done the 1st Friday after both of the classes are done writing their A-Level and IGCSE examinations. The dinner begins at 7 pm and the grade 11 class pose as the servers as well as the entertainment throughout the duration of the dinner. The dinner ends at midnight and

2176-431: The academic field, there are also adult proms for charity yearly where celebrities and government officers always go to these functions. In India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, the equivalent to some extent is a farewell party or farewell gathering. The outgoing students are given a warm send-off by the junior students and staff. All the seniors are felicitated with souvenirs and superlatives are given awards. There are also

2240-442: The ball with them. The balls usually have a theme and the classes perform choreographed dance routines at the beginning or during the evening. The students also receive a ribbon. It's common that various artists are invited to perform at the ball, ranging from fireshow performers to famous celebrities. At midnight, the classes perform a "midnight surprise performance" – typically some sort of funny act. Sometimes several schools organize

2304-472: The best dress, the best mode of transportation, and the best-looking date. Competition for the prom court also intensified, as the designation of prom queen became an important distinction of popularity. Prom became the pinnacle event of a high school student's social life. Today, prom continues to be a notable event in the social climate of high schools. Popular movies and novels attest to the importance of prom themes, prom dates, and prom queens. In some areas,

2368-586: The early 20th century, prom was a simple tea dance where high school seniors wore their Sunday best. In the 1920s and 1930s, prom expanded into an annual class banquet where students wore party clothes and danced afterward. As Americans gained more money and leisure time in the 1950s, proms became more extravagant and elaborate, bearing similarity to today's proms. The high school gym may have been an acceptable setting for sophomore dances, but junior prom and senior balls gradually moved to hotel ballrooms and country clubs. Competition blossomed, as teens strove to have

2432-672: The end of secondary education in year 11 (ages 15/16) and the end of sixth form (aged 18). In Scotland, it is usually only held at the end of S6 (ages 17/18) because all high schools in Scotland have pupils up to age 18 years, whereas elsewhere in the UK, many students have to go to college or sixth form to study for A-Levels. Proms are usually held in June, after the end of year exams, although in Northern Ireland, they are usually held in

2496-513: The end of the third quarter, shortly before the spring break, after which the matriculation examinations commence. It usually takes the form of a formal dinner and dance. In most schools, the 11th-grade class is responsible for arranging the event. Sometimes teachers and parents also attend. The Matric Dance has become one of the most popular occasions on the South African social calendar, but not without much controversy for its cost that, it

2560-555: The evening to celebrate further. Susan Ford Susan Elizabeth Ford Bales (born July 6, 1957) is an American author, photojournalist , and former chair of the board of the Betty Ford Center for alcohol and drug abuse. She is the only daughter of Gerald Ford , the 38th president of the United States, and his wife Betty Ford (née Bloomer). Ford is the youngest child, and only daughter, of former U.S. President Gerald Ford and former First Lady Betty Ford . As

2624-468: The exams begin. The word galla refers to the dress code which is dresses for the women and suits for the men. The prom in Denmark is well known for keeping the traditional dance Les Lanciers , where the third graders of high school (the seniors) start the whole dance, then the 1st and 2nd graders join later on (the high school, called "gymnasium" in Denmark, is three years). In Estonia, the equivalent of

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2688-536: The family car out after dark; the first real dress-up affair; and so forth. Proms also served as a heavily documented occasion, similar to a milestone event such as first communion or a wedding, in which the participants were taking an important step into a new stage in their lives. In earlier days, the prom may have also served as an announcement of engagement for the 'best couple' after the prom court had been crowned and recognized. While high school yearbooks did not start covering proms and including prom pictures until

2752-479: The film Jaws 2 , with many appearing in Ray Loynd's book Jaws 2 Log . In 1992, she became a member of the board of the Betty Ford Center and in 2005 became chair of the organization. She succeeded her mother, who remained a board member. In 2002, Bales wrote, with Laura Hayden, a novel, Double Exposure: A First Daughter Mystery , with a contemporary White House setting; in 2005, a sequel, Sharp Focus,

2816-416: The final examinations of all senior students before graduating. In Vietnam the equivalent to the prom is called liên hoan cuối năm . Some schools hold their liên hoan cuối năm at restaurants, but the majority of schools prefer simple "tea parties" with snacks and soft drinks inside their classrooms. Unlike in other countries, students don't dress up in dresses or tuxedos; they simply wear school uniforms to

2880-575: The formal prom event. The concept of champagne parties gained significant attention due to their flamboyant nature and the remarkable cultural custom they represent. Originating in the 2010s , champagne parties are characterized by their extravagance, creativity, and community involvement. Families host these events to celebrate and honor their teenagers as they prepare to depart for their proms. The festivities often include live music, themed decorations, red carpet entrances, and communal gatherings where friends, family, and neighbors come together to celebrate

2944-632: The funeral service of former First Lady Lady Bird Johnson ; in the same month, she and her husband Vaden Bales represented Mrs. Ford and the Ford family at the naming of the Gerald R. Ford Post Office in Vail, Colorado . On November 9, 2013, she christened the Gerald R. Ford with a bottle of sparkling water. On April 8, 2016, during a change of command ceremony aboard USS Gerald R. Ford and in recognition of her "extraordinary service as CVN 78 Ship Sponsor", she

3008-416: The graduation ceremony at night. They are usually held at hotels with a formal dress code, prom dates, rented cars, and, occasionally, prom kings and queens. The interaction between males and females is not limited. In Turkey, the equivalent is called Graduation Ball. The type of event and the rules applied are created by the student governments and school boards. It is a graduation tradition for seniors. In

3072-462: The old ballroom dances. In the past, the style was to dress in Victorian gowns and in an old-fashioned way, but these days the attire is similar to U.S. proms. Usually, girls wear a long princess gown or a ball gown and the boys wear a black suit. After the ball, the students sometimes attend a dinner in the evening, which is sometimes in a very formal restaurant. Students typically throw a party in

3136-601: The prom is often called Saja päeva ball . The event takes place 100 days prior to graduation and may be organized with several schools altogether. Students can dance but other events may be involved, too, besides ballroom dancing. The clothes are much the same kind as in the proms of other countries. In Finland, the equivalent of the prom is called vanhojen tanssit (senior ball). The event is held in February when third-year high school students (the abi ) end regular classes in order to prepare for their final abitur exams, and

3200-523: The real party begins with all the students dancing and enjoying their time. The after-prom can continue to 4 am and 5 am. In some places, there is no mingling of males and females due to adherence to the Islamic codes. In South Africa, the equivalent of the American prom is the Matric Dance, taking place during the matriculation (i.e., final) year of high school (12th grade). It takes place towards

3264-458: The school and make musical arrangements. The students take celebratory preparations like making a uniform T-shirt (generally white) to commemorate the day. The juniors of the school also spend money, help organize the party and give farewell to the seniors. At the end of the party, graduating students play with powdered colors and signs on each other's t-shirt to mark all the friendships they made in their school life. In Lebanon, proms are held after

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3328-476: The school organising the event. In Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, and Tanzania most private schools with expatriates have proms or "end of year socials". In Egypt, private schools have proms similar to ones held in the United States but with slight differences. The prom is held for a maximum of 3 hours, where teachers attend and enjoy some time with their students. Then there is the "after-prom", where no teachers or parents are allowed, during that time,

3392-519: The school, and involve bringing entertainment such as interactive games, artists, and other entertainers to the school, as a means to deter inappropriate behaviors. In the United Kingdom prior to the 2000s, many secondary schools would hold events such as a summer ball to celebrate the end of term or a leavers ball to celebrate the end of schooling but, usually, these did not have the cultural or social significance of US-style proms. In

3456-438: The second year students become the oldest in the school. For the remainder of the school year, the second-year students are called vanhat ("the old", or " the seniors"). For the ball, the second-year students learn 10–15 formal dances, mostly old ballroom dances such as the mazurka or a polonaise . Lately, some schools have begun to allow students to perform their own choreographies with their chosen music, after or in between

3520-488: The spring and summer months for students in Year 10 and Year 12. Some schools may also organise a formal-style event for Year 11 students, aptly named a "social". These events are widely considered to be a "rite of passage" for students. In some schools, Year 10 formals are not sanctioned or officially supported, as few students finish formal education at Year 10. However Year 12 formals are typically officially sanctioned, with

3584-550: The tea parties. In Albania, "mbrëmja e maturës", as graduation night, is the event held at the end of the senior year. Every school organizes it independently and the event usually takes place in June or July. In Belgium, as well as in some parts of the Netherlands, senior students celebrate their last 100 days of high school with a special day called Chrysostomos or 100-dagen feest ("100-days party"). Tradition states that on this winter day, seniors are allowed to pull pranks on their teachers and fellow students. Some schools handle

3648-652: The traditions of prom are not as rigid as they used to be, with many students attending as individuals or in groups instead of as couples. In 1975, U.S. First Daughter Susan Ford held her prom in the East Room of the White House . Traditionally, boys dress in black or white formal wear, often tuxedos regardless of the time of the event, sometimes paired with ties or bow ties with vests or cummerbunds , in some cases in colors matching their date's dress. Traditionally, girls wear dresses or evening gowns and adorn themselves with ladies' jewelry such as earrings and

3712-516: The wintertime near the start of the school year. At Scottish formal events, boys usually wear kilts (kilts are also often seen in the other Celtic regions) and Highland dress outfitters often sell out in an area around this time of year due to demand from school events. Also in Scotland , it is customary for traditional Scottish country dancing (part of the curriculum of all secondary schools) to be included. In Australia, formals are usually held in

3776-463: The world. In Canada , the terms "formal" and "Grad" are often used, while in Australia and New Zealand, the terms school formal and ball are most commonly used for occasions equivalent to the American prom, and the event is usually held for students in Year 12. Many schools hold a formal graduation ball for finishing students at the end of the year in place of or as well as a formal. In Ireland ,

3840-418: The youth's journey into adulthood. Attire at champagne parties typically mirrors the elegance and formality of prom attire, with teenagers and sometimes even their guests donning stylish evening gowns, suits, and formalwear. Prom attendees may be limited by their schools to be juniors or seniors and guests under age 21. Before prom, girls typically get their hair styled, often in groups as a social activity at

3904-498: Was "extremely lucky" that while she was in the gym, a surgeon was "walking up the steps" and "shocked" her back. She was revived with an automated external defibrillator. After her recovery, she was given a heart stent and pacemaker. She spoke of the experience on June 4, 2013, at the American Heart Association 's Heart Ball in Grand Rapids. Bales endorsed Democratic candidate Kamala Harris for President in

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3968-588: Was in the White House. She later briefly attended the University of Kansas for the spring semester of 1977, but did not graduate. Bales trained as a photographer and worked as a photojournalist for the Associated Press , Newsweek , Money Magazine , Ladies Home Journal , The Topeka Capital-Journal , the Omaha Sun and also freelanced . She was hired to shoot publicity stills for

4032-579: Was named an honorary naval aviator by Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson, thus becoming only the 31st person to receive this honor, and the first woman ever to be so honored. The ship was commissioned as USS Gerald R. Ford on July 22, 2017, with Bales in attendance to give the order, "Man our ship, and bring her to life." In 2018, Bales represented the Ford family at the funerals of President George H.W. and First Lady Barbara Bush. Susan E. Ford married Charles Vance, one of her father's former U.S. Secret Service agents, on February 10, 1979. For

4096-588: Was published. Bales attended the December 26, 2006 – January 3, 2007 state funeral services and ceremonies for her father with her mother, and over the course of several days greeted mourners while President Ford's casket lay in state on the Lincoln catafalque in the Capitol Rotunda and during the public repose at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She read a passage from

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