Black Pearl Ball: A Night of Elegance and Traditions

As narrated by Christine Valentin (NYMP10) with direct commentaries from Athenia Rodney (NYMP2).

MPNY10 at the Middlebury College Black Pearl Ball 2010For many students on the Middlebury College campus, the Black Pearl Ball is one of the most buzz-worthy events of the entire year. For those who have no idea of the Black Pearl Ball, it is a campus-wide dance hosted by the Middlebury student organization, Women of Color, that takes place during Homecoming Weekend. The event is attended by not only current Middlebury students but alumni as well. So how did the Black Pearl Ball, which in the recent years has also served as an alternative option to the Homecoming Formal itself, even came to be?

As it turns out, Black Pearl Ball would probably not have existed on Middlebury’s campus had it not been for Athenia Rodney, an alumnus from MPNY2. Athenia led the creation of this grand event after returning from a semester spent in a domestic exchange program at Spelman College (a Historically Black College) in Atlanta, Georgia in the Spring semester of 2003. During her time there, she was very involved in homecoming event planning and came to the realization that homecoming was both the highlight for many visiting alumni and for current students to get excited about their school.

“Homecoming [at Spelman College] was an exciting time for friendly rivalries and school spirit; something I believed Middlebury lacked.”

Athenia saw that one of Spelman’s most noteworthy events during homecoming was the school’s dance, the homecoming formal. The Spelman homecoming was known for its extravagance: a known performer would be hired, a luxurious space rented out, limousines or SUVs ordered and everyone would get dressed up—nails done, hair done, everything did! It was like having a second high school prom except everyone was welcome to attend.

“My main goal, after I left Spelman College was to find a way to bring Homecoming alive for the Middlebury College community. I wanted to find something that everyone could get excited about; an event that we could establish into a tradition not just for current but for future students and alumni as well. My second goal was to put my heart and soul, the Women of Color student association on the map, not just as the filler organization as it seemed to have become whenever the African-American Alliance, Distinguished Men of Color or Pan-Caribbean Student Organization needed extra funding but as a leading organization for a major event. Out of all that was born the Black Pearl Ball.”

Since its beginnings, certain things have remained constant as a form of defining Black Pearl Ball. The ball must have a theme and a visiting DJ. It has to be publicized to the entire campus and all who attend have to look their freshest. Most of all, the culture of the event is never to be compromised no matter how big it got.

“I have come back almost every year after graduation. I might have missed 2 or 3 years in-between getting married and having a baby but once that was stabilized I have been back at Middlebury at full-force.”

Middlebury College Black Pearl Ball 2011This year’s Black Pearl Ball will be on Saturday, October 29th, 2011 in Coltrane Lounge. [It’s the white house right across from Pearsons Hall and behind the Career Service Office at Adirondack House]. The theme is Masquerade and we will have DJ Basiq all the way from NYC, so be ready to become enchanted!

Excited yet? I know I am!

 
*Photograph of MPNY10 at Black Pearl Ball 2010 courtesy of Christine Valentin.
#Flyer of Black Pearl Ball 2011 designed by Feliz Baca and poster created by Thomas Scott.

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