A Starry Night to Remember: Cadet Ball
By Ava Edghill ‘25, Columnist; Edited by Isabella Perco ‘26, Staff Editor
On Friday, April 12th, the Grade 11s and 12s enjoyed a night under the stars at the annual Cadet Ball! This year, the ball was held at Club Italia, where the students gathered in their best dresses and red coats to celebrate a wonderful night.
Cadet Ball is an annual tradition at Ridley that extends back many years. It is a dance for the Grade 11s and 12s to celebrate the beginning of the Cadets season and the upcoming Cadet Inspection. Each year, there is a new theme for the dance; this year it was “Starry Night.” Before the dance, the day was filled with lots of excitement as everyone was getting ready for the night. At 5 PM, everyone gathered to take photos in the front circle, filling their Heads of Houses’ phones with stunning shots. The Ridley buses were filled, some with speakers blasting music and students who just couldn’t wait to get to the event! Club Italia was decorated with lights, stars, and lots of blue for the occasion. Upon arrival, students socialized and took even more photos as they waited for the doors to open to make their big entrance.
Once the doors opened, everyone was transported into a ‘starry night’ as the ballroom was wonderfully decorated. The dance began with a delicious four-course dinner, no Aramark for a night! The meal included appetizers such as shrimp and prawns, mains of pasta and chicken, and a dessert of delicious cookies and fruit. Students sat around their tables happily socializing with their peers and warming up for the rest of the big night. As the night moved on, students flowed onto the dance floor, laughing and dancing, and the line for the photobooth got longer and longer. Some highlights from the night were the multiple crowd surfs, the G-West teachers being in their country era and joining in for the line dance, and Mr. Bett stealing the show by making his mark on the dance floor! Overall, the night was a huge success as everyone had so much fun, including the faculty members! Everyone left with smiles on their faces, stinging feet from dancing too much, and unforgettable new memories. I know that Ridley students are already counting down the days until next year’s Cadet Ball.
Best Dance Moves: MR. BETT
Best Group Photo: MR. KIDD AND THE GUYS
