Hall or Club Dances
These guidelines for Dances, SYR's,
Tent Dances, and Off Campus Formals as established by the
Student Activities Office (SAO) & Hall Presidents
Council (HPC) under the direction of the Office of Student
Affairs represent the University's expectations for how
these events should be conducted. Any deviations from these
guidelines should be made after consultation with the
Student Activities Office and with the approval of the
Rector (in case of a hall) and the SAO. Failure to comply
with these guidelines could result in the loss of hall's or
club's dance privileges. More
information on hall dances in particular can be found here.
Questions about hall or club dances? Contact Alicia Bates, Assistant
Director for Student Program.
Below is our 2018 dance calendar - Updated 10.26.18:
Planning a Dance
As for any other event, when planning a dance, you will want to start with an SAO360 request. In addition to the Facilities/Room/Location Module, you will also want to complete the Dance Module. Dance spaces book up fast – if you want, you can complete the Facilities Module months in advance to secure the date and location. As the event gets closer, complete another SAO360 request with the dance details.
For more information on planning a dance, don't forget to attend Dance Training as a part of the Leadership for Organizations, Clubs, & Students series.
General Guidelines for All Dances
When planning a SYR, tent dance, or
off-campus formal, it is necessary for leaders to ensure
that the focus of the event will be on group-wide activities
rather than on private gatherings in student rooms. Events
which allow students to travel freely between the event and
private gatherings over the course of the evening will not
be approved.
- Because these events are intended to involve the majority of the residence hall/club community, residents or members who plan not to attend the dance or residents who have left the dance early are not permitted to have parties or other social gatherings during or after the dance.
- $3.00 per person should be spent on food and non-alcoholic beverages for both on and off-campus dances to ensure there is sufficient food for the nature of the event. Exceptions can be made through the rector and/or SAO if the theme of the dance lends itself to less expensive food.
- One uniformed NDSP officer at the event.
- The Hall Presidents Council and SAO strongly encourage residence halls to strive for at least 60% participation of the residence hall community to truly maintain the character of the event as an all-hall dance and to ensure the event’s financial viability. For the event to occur, at least 50% of the residents of the hall should be planning to attend.
- Guests should arrive to join or pick up residents no more than 75 minutes prior to the beginning of the dance.
- All participants must be present at the dance no later than 30 minutes after the official start time of the dance. This time may be adjusted to take into account the distance of the dance venue from campus.
- No readmission is allowed once a student has left the dance.
- Once the dance begins, no social gatherings are permitted in private rooms in the halls.
- Residents/ members who do not plan to attend the dance or residents / guests/ members who have left the dance early areno permitted to have parties or other social gatherings during the dance.
- If the resident leaves before the dance is over, he or she may return to their residence hall room. Guests will not be permitted back into the hall, except in residence hall’s 24 hour lounge.
Guidelines for Tent Dances
- Only four tent dances campus-wide per
night are allowed. Should more than four halls/clubs apply
to Student Activities to have tent dances on the same night,
selection will be determined by a lottery with some priority
given to halls/clubs with a record of successful dances
during the previous academic year; those that have
experienced problems with dances during the past year may be
given lower priority.
- The dances must be spread out geographically across campus (e.g., if Stanford and Farley hosted tent dances on the same night, only one could take place on North Quad).
- Suitable out-of-hall location for inclement weather must be secured in advance.
- Halls/clubs must demonstrate that equipment has been purchased or contracted (tent with side flaps, snow fencing, fans, etc.).
- One uniformed NDSP officer is required for every 150 people.
- Dance area must be secured by snow-fencing and/or natural borders (wall of a building, etc.). Snow-fencing is free from the University Landscape Services; halls must pay the labor cost for set-up and tear-down.
- Bands can play music until midnight. Recorded music can be played until 1:45 AM.
- Students attending the dance should wear attire appropriate for the theme and formality of the event; hall staff will monitor this expectation.
- The tent should have only one entry/exit
point:
- All admitted guests will receive a wrist band, which
they must wear while they’re at the dance. Cost of
wristbands is approximately $25 per 1,000 bands.
- All admitted guests will receive a wrist band, which
they must wear while they’re at the dance. Cost of
wristbands is approximately $25 per 1,000 bands.
- Entry point should have a hall staff
member/club officer checking names against a list of
ticket-holders for admittance.
- Dance participants should NOT be allowed back into rooms once the dance has begun.
- Re-entry into halls by dance participants is allowed only for restroom access. A hall staff member, club officer or security officer should monitor the entrance to the hall.
- First floor of hall should have ample male and female restrooms.
- Consider limiting the number of participants allowed entry into the dance at one time (no more than three at once, etc.).
- Hall staff, club officers, and/or security officer should ensure that access to basement and upper floors is restricted for dance participants.
- Residents who plan not to attend the dance or residents who have left the dance early are not permitted to have parties or other large social gatherings during the dance.
- If the resident leaves before the dance if over, he or she may return to their residence hall room. Guests may not be permitted back into the hall.
Guidelines for Off-Campus Formals
All policies above apply. In addition, charter transportation
must be used.
