Venice High seniors attended their masquerade-themed prom at the Odyssey Event Center in Granada Hills on May 18. From 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., attendees danced to music, entertained themselves at the air hockey and foosball tables and posed for pictures in the photo booth. The venue was decorated with mardi gras colors, from the maroon and gold gladiolus centerpieces to the masquerades and sashes above the stage. At the entrance, students were given beans as ballots to vote for prom court.

After dinner was served, it was time to announce the prom court. Senior class sponsor Ms. Sophie Sabbah called Thaddaeus Mammo and Julissa Ventureno to the stage as the room cheered them on. The newly crowned prom king and queen then danced to a slow song.

“Being me, I didn’t think I was going to win,” said Ventureno. “I thought I would maybe get to be a princess. I kind of panicked up there because I didn’t know how to slow dance, but I am so grateful that the prom king was super nice, and he was teaching me. It was really fun.”

Alberto Ayala and Nevan Campos were crowned prom princes; Wendy Baragan and Mariana Salinas were crowned prom princesses.

Originally, prom was to be held at Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City, but miscommunication between the venue, WOW! Events and the prom committee concerning a fire at the lodge led to the relocation of the venue. The Odyssey Events Center in Granada Hills was the most similar in atmosphere and price.