Pull on cowboy boots and find a plaid flannel shirt – the next dance at St. Paul Academy and Summit School will have the community partying Western style. This year, the Student Activities Committee has made the decision to host a hoedown themed dance.

This will be the second year without a Halloween dance. “We didn’t want two dances [Homecoming and Halloween] that were close together, so that’s a big reason why we are not doing a Halloween [dance again],” SAC Co-President Maddie Flom-Staab said.

SAC wanted to take a fresh look at things and try to find a theme that had never been done before.

“We have always wanted to do a barn dance, and this year was a great opportunity,” Flom-Staab said.

This event offers an opportunity to get together with your posse and have a good time — no date required.

“All of our dances are come as you are and have fun,” Flom-Staab said.

Within SAC there is a lot of excitement about planning and sharing the new idea with the community. “So far it has been cool to come up with new ideas that most of the people at our school have not experienced in a dance before,” freshman SAC member Dina Moradian said.

Student momentum around the new theme continues to build with less than a month before the hoedown. Students look forward to the departure from predictable dance themes: “I’m excited for a new type of dance I haven’t had at SPA in any of my years here so far. It should be fun,” senior Delaney Carter said.

Another new feature will be a song list that students can contribute to before the dance. A student DJ will use suggestions to build the evening’s playlist. Dancegoers are encouraged to dress in a Western themed outfit.

“Everyone owns a pair of jeans,” Flom-Staab said on participating in the dress up portion of the dance theme.

The opportunity to wear Western clothing has sophomore Jack Johnston excited: “I especially like this Western theme because I can rock my overalls.”

The dance will take place on Nov. 8 at 8:00 p.m. with final entry at 9:00 p.m. in the cafeteria. Entry cost: $10.