Slideshows: Mardi Gras Dances on Both Coasts

The students of Thomas Aquinas College celebrated Mardi Gras a few days early this year, with freshmen hosting Mardi Gras dances on both coasts.

The festivities began in New England with a “Masquerade Murder Mystery”-themed dance in Olivia Music Hall, complete with live, student-performed music. The setting of the dance/mystery was a coming-of age-party for the daughter of a lord and lady. Each student was given a name and character (e.g., a suitor, a foreign dignitary, a court minstrel, etc.), and a clue to help solve a “murder” that would happen part way through the dance. Around 9:00 p.m., the lights went out, and two attendants fell victim to a secretive attack. Students then took turns guessing who the murderer was, and those who guessed correctly received a prize.

Meanwhile, in California students opted for a “Mexican Fiesta” theme in a brightly decorated St. Cecilia Hall. The theme touched upon every facet of the dance, from the food (tacos, of course), to the game (piñata), to the student-produced film (a comedy, Los Dias de la Biblioteca General). A highlight of the evening came when junior Leslie Galvan danced ballet folklorico, a traditional Mexican dance set to mariachi music, for her fellow students.

Lent is just three days away! If you would like to pray with the students of Thomas Aquinas College this year, please sign up for daily reminders to watch our five-minute Stations of the Cross video.