Dinner and Dance Cards

Our branch presidency felt our youth needed an opportunity to mingle in a social environment where they could extend themselves to others and feel that they counted. To help accomplish this, we decided to have a “Line Up” dance and dinner. Though the concept is certainly not new, it was so successful that we thought others might benefit from learning about it.

First, we announced the dance to the youth, explaining that if they wanted to participate, the branch presidency would arrange a date for them. Because the branch presidency lined up all the dates, the pressure was off both the young men and young women. Then we had the young men call and arrange for the date and later return the young women home.

At the dinner, we asked the young people to dance with a different partner each time. Mingling at the dance was successful because no one was with the same person for the entire evening.

The Sunday following the activity, there was new excitement as branch members gathered. “We needed that,” one young woman said. “We needed the opportunity to have fun in a nonthreatening environment and to meet lots of people.”

This activity required the leaders to do advance planning and then to follow through. The youth who had originally agreed to participate rarely canceled. Though there were some last-minute changes, we worked together, and the dance was a great success.—Mark G. Christensen, Greeley Second Ward, Greeley Colorado Stake