Freshmen Welcome Peers for a “Dance with the Deities”

The Muse sang last Saturday at Thomas Aquinas College, California, where members of the Class of 2027 threw their first dance as a class, repaying last semester’s warm welcomes from the other classes with festivities of their own. 

Inspired by their Seminar readings from Homer, Sophocles, and Aeschylus, the freshmen brought Mount Olympus to the Fritz B. Burns Auditorium in St. Cecilia Hall. Green garlands wreathed doorframes and faux pillars surrounded the dance floor, while fairy lights hung throughout gave the hall a sufficiently otherworldly atmosphere. Faithful to the occasion, many dancegoers arrived in suitably Hellenic attire — tunics and laurel wreaths were well represented. 

The evening’s entertainment was a short film produced by freshmen Bella Cervantes-Gutierrez and Liam McDaniel, marrying classic dating shows with the sometimes-bizarre twists of Greek mythology. “It was really funny,” laughed Mary Chumbe (’26) afterward. “They did a great job!”

Between open swing dances and waltzes, students gathered for the annual swing dance competition. Over three rounds, couples went head-to-head and toe-to-toe on the dance floor, judged for grace, technique, and flair. In third place were Patrick Murphy (’25) and Christine McMasters (’25), in second were Ernie Grimm (’24) and Fiona From (’24), and in first place — for no less than the fourth year in a row — were Max Nunes (’24) and Francesca Vercillo (’24).

The night ran its course, and none were denied their fair portion of dancing and festivity. “I’m really proud of my class,” said Mr. McDaniel. “I think it was a great dance!”