By GRACE WANG, freshman

On December 18, the annual Bandboozle dance, hosted by the JP Stevens B.E.A.T. (Band Enthusiasts Acting Together) club, took place to raise money for the VH1 Save the Music Foundation. Mr. Zazzali, one of JP Stevens’ band teachers, explained that “The VH1 Save the Music Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to ensuring that music instruction is a core component to a complete education, giving children the tools and confidence to excel in academics and in life.” The B.E.A.T. club successfully donated money towards the cause by organizing a dance, a perfect opportunity for students to relax and socialize.

As students strolled into JP Stevens on the night of Bandboozle, they could already hear the beat of the music reverberating throughout the halls. The team of student DJs was blasting popular music to set the mood for this lively dance. Students clad in formal attire began to flood into the cafeteria, prepared for an enjoyable evening. In accordance with this year’s superhero theme, many students also dressed up as Hollywood favorites, such as Superman, Batman, and The Incredibles. Freshman Anhar Islam commented, “It was great to see all the different costumes that everyone came up with. There was a variety of selections that ranged from Captain America to Spiderman, all of which demonstrated the students’ interests.”

As soon as the disco lights lit up the dark cafeteria, students assembled in the center of the room and began to dance energetically. On one side of the cafeteria, many students clustered in front of a television and dueled each other in intense Wii games such as Super Smash Bros Brawl and Just Dance. Another group of students gathered in the back and took photographs in front of a backdrop which was titled “Meanwhile at Bandboozle…” The event fostered a lively atmosphere as students socialized while eating food such as pizza, brownies, and pasta. Afterwards, a costume contest was held to distinguish the most impressive superhero costumes. The winners of the contest were seniors Kobi Dent and Victoria Yakubovich, who were dressed as Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy. Kobi Dent commented, “Bandboozle always has wacky themes, and it was fun to see the other students’ creativity shine through with the theme of super heroes. I think the unconventional element is what allowed Victoria and I to win the costume contest with our Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy outfits.”

The B.E.A.T. members dedicated a lot of time to organize this special event. Everyone worked together to plan out the activities and make arrangements for music, decorations, and refreshments. Preparations went very smoothly because the club formed different committees which handled specific tasks, such as the Food Committee and Decoration Committee. Freshman Tanaya Tonpe says, “The event was a good opportunity to unite fellow students in the music program. At the same time, the money we raised was going towards a good cause—funding band programs for kids just like us.”

Overall, the B.E.A.T. students’ dedication in organizing the annual Bandboozle raised over $2,000 in the last seven years. This year’s dance eventually was a great success as it not only donated $200 to the VH1 Foundation but also gave students an opportunity to reunite with their friends and dance the night away in superhero costumes. The B.E.A.T. students proved that they did not have to have super powers in order to plan an unforgettable dance for a charitable cause.