The Middle School dance is a tradition, almost a rite of passage.
But let’s face it…middle school kids can be challenging on a good day. Trying to entertain them and keep them happy is difficult at best. Getting them excited about a school event is sometimes almost impossible.
Here are some themes that will spark some enthusiasm in the kids.
Choose one of these teen dance themes or come up with your own. Then follow these simple tips with any theme you choose to get kids excited to attend:
- Announce your dance well in advance, custom banners are ideal for this.
- Recruit as many kids as possible to participate in planning and decorating.
- Make your event space look festive- If you’re on a budget use inexpensive balloons and streamers.
- Set up activities, games, and snack stations to match your theme.
Below you will find several popular themes for middle school dances. Or for those who want more of an “out of the box” solution, choose from popular prom or homecoming dance themes from andersons.com. They can also be used for the middle school age group!
Middle School/Junior High Dance Themes:
1. Glow-in-the-dark Dance
- Encourage kids to dress in white or light colors
- Hand out glow bracelets or necklaces as “tickets”
- Hang up black lights
- Host a glow-dance competition
- Give out “Glowing Awards to your dance competition winners
- Set up a face painting station with glow paints
2. Awesome 80’s Dance (or 60’s or 70’s…)
- Fill your space with icons from the 80’s
- Invite kids to dress in 80’s fashion
- Play hits from the 80’s
- Hold 80’s dance competitions
3. Masquerade Dance 
- Hand out masks as tickets
- Decorate with masks, beads, feathers and tissue
- Choose flamboyant colors
- Encourage homemade masks and give awards for the most creative
4. Vegas Baby!
- Casino chips or show tickets for dance tickets
- Lots of casino signs, blinking lights and “flash”
- Non-gambling casino tables with fun prizes
- Use play money for decorations
5. Tropical Para-dance
- Decorate with tropical trees, sand, sun and surf decor
- Encourage kids to dress in flowered/tropical apparel
- Serve tropical snacks and punch
- Set up a surfboard for a photo backdrop
6. Hollywood Stars
- Roll out the red carpet at the entrance
- Decorate with lots of stars, use red & gold colors throughout your event
- Invite students to dress as their favorite Hollywood star
- Hand out awards trophies- best dancer, best dressed, best dramatic entrance, etc.
7. Fairy Tale/Fantasy
- Decorate with gossamer and lights; drape tulle or netting to create a romantic look
- Encourage kids to dress “Cinderella” style
- Think blue and white decor: blue punch, blue and white balloons, blue and white fabric..the more blue and white the better.
- Set up a blue and white candy buffet
Let us help you plan your middle school dance. Shop now at itselementary.com
I am a student planning the school dance. We have a big buget of 280 dollars for decor and food. We are doing a Paris theme and it’s so cool. It’s a 6 grade dance and we are having a high schooler dj, lots of food, a homemade photo booth. We have tables set up around the edges and a dance space in the middle, the dj desk is on a stage. To entertain we are having a dance competition. These are great ways to help money management, and time, and orinization. These are all great ways to save on money and keep people entertained.
these ideas are so good !! im part of the event planning club in Simon Baruch middle school and i think these ideas would be so great !!
I’m planning my school dance right now, and we are planning on having a summer theme with a scavenger hunt and musical chairs. (it’s a casual dance, and if people don’t want to go to the dance, then they can go for the games)