Although Fairfield students will be preparing for final exams during the actual Kentucky Derby, next weekend they will have the opportunity to experience the atmosphere and decor of the Kentucky Derby season.
Sponsored by the Fairfield University Student Association, with donations provided by Vineyard Vines, students are invited to partake in a Fairfield tradition – the 56th Annual Dogwood Dance – next Saturday, April 18.
This year, Dogwood will be held on the Barone Campus Center Green, a change from recent years where it has been held in Alumni Hall.
Co-Director of Traditional Events at FUSA Patricia Masi ‘17 said that the change was made to reflect the desire by FUSA to revamp the event as a whole. “Having it in Alumni Hall is a good spot to have it, but it has a high school dance feel to it and we don’t want to be confined to a hot, gross gym. The first thing we thought of to appeal to students is to hold it outside.”
Along with fellow co-directors Caitlin Hanus ‘18 and Daley Baldwin ‘16, the team has planned for Dogwood to change not only in terms of venue, but also in theme.
The Kentucky Derby theme was chosen by this year’s planning committee as a direct appeal to the Fairfield student brand.
“We [Baldwin and I] actually thought about it since the beginning of the year. It’s kind of something that involved the brand of a Fairfield student – Lilly [Pulitzer], Vineyard Vines. We think it will draw attention to the dance and bring people in.”
For Monica Willson ‘18, “The theme of Kentucky Derby attracted me because it will allow the students to dress in formal, elegant and colorful attire.”
Masi added that, coincidentally, Vineyard Vines is also sponsoring the official Kentucky Derby, which she felt would entice students to come to Dogwood.
Hanus contacted a student representative for Vineyard Vines and a current employee, who is a 2013 Fairfield alum, to donate merchandise.
Part of this merchandise was put toward creating Vineyard Vines baskets, which will be given out to any students who had bought their ticket before Thursday, April 16. However, other Vineyard Vines baskets will be raffled off at the event itself, so all students will have the chance to go home with a prize.
Masi and Hanus expect both the venue and theme to draw in more attendance. Last year’s attendance was somewhere between 100-150 people, according to Hanus. Baldwin added that Alumni Hall was a detractor for students.
“One of the reasons I think that Dogwood wasn’t as successful [last year] was because it was inside. Everyone went to high school and had dances in their gym which is why I believe it was hard to get a good turnout at the event” said Baldwin.
However, that did not deter Masi’s enthusiasm for this year’s dance. “Maybe it [Dogwood] wasn’t awesome last year, but maybe this year it will be. Give us a chance to show how good this tradition was and still is.” As of April 9, Hanus and Masi said they have already sold 120 tickets with a little more than a week left until the event. They hope to reach their goal of 500 tickets sold.
“For Dogwood, I’m anticipating that people will have a good time. It’s going to be just like Prez Ball in the spring. We sold out Prez Ball for the first time in a really long time,” said Masi. “I want people afterwards to come out saying that they had a good Saturday night.”
Hanus agreed: “I hope that the planning lays the foundation for future years. I realize that Rome wasn’t built in a day. We have a specific goal and theme in mind. I think that’s all you can hope for in an event is that this year will be more successful than last year.”
Junior Taylor Rosello attended Dogwood last year and, while she still had fun, she is excited about the changes to this year’s event. “The fact that it’s outside this year gives it [the event] more pizazz.”
Sophomore Brianna Cocuzzo agreed: “The change of venue is what actually convinced me to go this year because I thought it would attract a greater crowd and I enjoy outdoor dances more than being in the gym,” said Cocuzzo. Students can expect this year’s Dogwood dance to fully embrace its theme with a contest for best hat, “Run for the Roses”-themed centerpieces and a mocktail bar featuring mint juleps. The dance will also host the same DJ from the President’s Ball in the fall.
Tickets will be on sale at the BCC Information Desk the rest of this week for $10.
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