With Homecoming excitement dying down and Christmas approaching, it is time for Prep’s annual TOLO dance, but this year the infamous girls-ask-guys extravaganza has a few changes. For starters, the dance is now called the Winter Ball, taking after many other Seattle high schools. Along with the name, a few other key details have been altered to make the dance more inviting to a wider range of students.

“TOLO’s attendance rates have been dropping for years now” said Jane Hurley ’23, Associated Student Body President. Hurley stressed the rebranding of TOLO was to more clearly convey the holiday theme to students, “thus, Winter Ball was born!”

The main attraction with TOLO amongst Prep students is the aspect of girls asking guys. It has been an unwritten tradition for years that girls ask guys, girls organize pre-parties and plans, and girls carry the heavy load after boys had taken care of it for Homecoming. These gender-conforming rules of the dance were swept away along with the name.

“We want people to feel comfortable asking who they want, and to not attach the pressure of gender roles” said Kenny Ouedraogo ’25. The Sophomore ASB member emphasizes the “anyone ask anyone” expectations for the dance, meaning guys are not entirely off the hook this holiday season.

There is a sense of familiarity with TOLO, however, for students that experienced it pre-pandemic. The tradition of Christmas colored dresses and ties, and the dance being the last hoorah before winter break gave students a very clear unwritten how-to for the dance. This year, however, there is less structure and example to look up to for the Winter Ball, as it is

“Tolo has been a PNW girl-ask-guy tradition, so changing the name does deemphasize that familiar structure. We’re ok with that. If girls want to bring dates, then they can go ahead and ask.” said ASB Adviser Mrs. Lovejoy, reiterating the “anyone ask anyone” mantra of the dance.

Winter Ball is a new Prep tradition that will help steer students away from stressful gender roles and expectations and allow them to enjoy the holiday season and the presence of their classmates in a more fun environment.