Perm your hair and pull on that fancy dress hiding in the back of your closet - it's time for "Flashback Prom."
The Callaway Senior Center is hosting a free, prom-themed dance from 5-7 p.m. Thursday evening. Both couples and singles are welcome, and fancy duds are optional - comfy clothes are just fine too. Concessions will be on sale.
This prom wouldn't be happening without the help of students at Fulton Middle School. FMS students are divided into eight "houses" (think Hogwarts of Harry Potter fame), each of which is partnered with a community organization. Students in House Pikat are partnered with the Callaway Senior Center but have struggled to find a way to build that bond.
"I think one of the seventh-graders thought of having a dance for them," eighth-grade student Hannah Redman said. "Then I said my mom (April Redman) is the senior center administrator, so we might actually be able to make that happen."
Math teacher Barb Barkho approached April about the idea, and April said she was delighted to accept the proposal.
Hannah Redman is one of Barkho's students and stayed late after school Tuesday to make decorations for the event. Students in sixth through eighth grade have volunteered to run a concession stand and even serve as dance partners for the seniors.
"Once we made a decision to do it and picked a date, we got to work planning," Barkho said.
Students took the lead on organizing the event, she added. The planning process has been hindered somewhat by frequent snow days over recent weeks - some ideas, such as spending time with a dance instructor to learn dances from the '50s, '60s and '70s will have to wait for next year, Barkho said. She hopes to make this an annual event.
Hannah said she hoped spending time at the senior center will help her classmates get more comfortable around older generations.
"They're not that different," she said. "They grew up, they made mistakes, they like to laugh. They're just like us - except they don't know as much about using technology."
April's enthusiasm for the event grew when she realized some of the seniors never went to prom during high school.
"I asked some of our ladies to bring in pictures from their own proms so we could display them," she said. "Come to find out, after talking to some of these ladies out here, most of the women out here didn't get to go to prom. They didn't have photos."
She's trying to get hold of Polaroid film so the event can feature a photo booth, and participants can bring home a tangible memento of the evening. Fulton police officer Lance Reams is donating his time to serve as DJ and plans to play plenty of oldies - the kind of music participants might have danced to when they were young.
Redman said she's been trying to expand the senior center's activity offerings.
"We'd like to continue doing stuff like this going forward, " she said. "I'm all about adding more fun things to do. I think the only thing that's going to combat the negative viewpoint on aging is having a place to go."
And, Redman added, most events aren't just for seniors.
"That's a common misconception," she said. "It's a senior-based program; however, when we have lunch, anyone can come eat. They just pay $6.50."
For those who can't get enough of dancing and music, the senior center is also hosting a concert by country band Silver Wings from 6-9 p.m. Saturday. Admission is $8 at the door; attendees are encouraged to bring a covered dish, snack or dessert to share during an intermission potluck. A family dance night will follow at 6 p.m. March 7.