SUPERIOR – Entering the building on Saturday, March 22, it looked like any other time at the school. Rounding one corner, things changed as a green corridor of leaves sprouted from the walls. The multi-purpose room had transformed into an enchanted garden for the Superior High School Prom’s Sweet Garden Escape theme.

As couples entered the room, they passed under an archway arbor. To the left was the stage, turned into a gazebo for the night. In the far right corner, a waterfall with a stream made of blue fabric, tinsel and lights. Most of the right wall served as a sitting area with tables and chairs for when the kids needed breaks from dancing.

The girls wore outfits spanning the spectrum from prom-specific dresses in vibrant, sparkly greens or oranges to simpler every day use dresses in black. As the evening wore on, many of the girls abandoned their heels and danced barefoot or switched to an emergency pair of flats. The boys were dressed in everything from full suits to a plaid shirt with slacks or a simple button-down with black jeans.

As the clock struck midnight, the dance floor was cleared for the presentation of the prom’s royalty. After the votes were tallied, junior Serenity Branden was named queen and senior Austin King was named king.

As the royalty descended, two children, Landon Richards and Jacqi Jo Mueller, shyly approached with the crowns. After the couple was crowned, they took to the dance floor for the traditional solo dance before more couples joined them for the rest of the song.

By this time parents, friends and families had entered for the couple’s parade. As names were read off, the boys and girls came from opposite entrances to meet at the center of the gazebo for pictures before descending the steps to watch their classmates walk. According to Ev Schultz, the faculty prom organizer, everything was to remain as it was until Monday, March 24, when the kindergartners had their own prom.

All of the decorations except the construction paper were saved. According to Schultz, the decorations have been reused for approximately 20 years.

The whole event was set up in a week, but was planned over the course of three months. According to Schultz, the prom committee met in December to begin making the arrangements for the big night. The committee originally had eight members before circumstances caused most of them to drop out, leaving juniors McKenzie Stager and Sierra Bruning to make the dance a reality.

“We met in the morning and they just didn’t want to get out of bed, I guess,” Schultz said.

The theme was selected by popular vote. A list of possible themes was created and narrowed down to the best six. The juniors and seniors then voted for which one they liked the best. In the past, the juniors have put the prom on for the seniors, but this year both classes were involved in setting the event up. While the dance was focused on the upper classmen, the evening was not limited to them.

“The entire high school can come to the prom and they can also invite dates from out of town,” Schultz said.

Music for the night was provided by a DJ from Riverhaus Productions. Schultz said the music could not have any adult language or themes and had to be appropriate for school.

The dance was a huge success with people energetic and active right up to the 1 a.m. closing. Schultz felt everyone should have had a good time.

“Anyone that’s not, it’s their fault,” Schultz said. “It’s all provided for them.”