By KELLY YU, freshman

Every year, the JP Stevens band helps make a child’s dream come true. Due to the budget cuts that affect many public schools, music is often one of the first subjects removed from a school’s curriculum and thus from its students’ educations. However, the BEAT (Band Enthusiasts Acting Together) club hosts an annual dance, the Bandboozle, to raise money for the VH1 Save the Music Foundation, which provides a musical education and free, brand-new instruments to under-resourced schools. The BEAT club’s diligent efforts also led to an enchanting night for JP students to socialize with their friends. In addition to achieving such an altruistic goal, this year the club and the Disney-themed dance created an enchanting night for JP students that ended with a magical sentiment.
The twinkling Christmas lights that hung on the walls of the cafeteria created a festive mood, intimating the approach of the winter holidays. As the DJ blasted music and vibrant disco lights swirled throughout the ceiling, students in Disney character costumes danced to the beat and created a lively atmosphere. “The theme of this year’s dance is very unique and fun,” commented freshman Joy Lu. “No matter how old we are, we can still be children again and have fun dressing up as one of our favorite Disney characters. In my case, it is Winnie the Pooh.” Other characters seen included Mulan clothed in a traditional Chinese dress and Perry the Platypus from the popular TV show Phineas and Ferb.
There were alternative activities as well. Students were able to challenge friends in the Wii game Super Smash Bros. or indulge themselves in food ranging from chocolate cupcakes to lo mein. A costume contest was later held to decide who had the best Disney character costumes. The winners of the contest, senior Jon Kim as Carl from the movie Up and junior Lea Chen as Snow White, were each awarded a golden crown.
“It was a great turnout,” said Lea Chen. “All the committees cooperated together to make this dance a success. The members of the Decorating Committee took time out of their busy schedules to adorn the cafeteria with painted pictures of Disney characters, and the Advertising Committee effectively publicized this event.” Their efforts were well rewarded as they raised a lot for the VH1 Save the Music Foundation to promote opportunities for others to experience music. Senior Band Council member Kristen Tse added, “As students in band, we know the importance of music and its positive impact on us. That is why we donate money to VH1 Save the Music Foundation every year. However, this dance is not only to help other schools in need but also to give JP students an opportunity to have a good time.”
In the end, the students’ altruism and camaraderie made this event a true “dream come true.”