DANCE 'TIL YOU'RE DEAD: A Night of Music, Mystery and Halloween Spirit

From gothic club classics to chocolate fountains and a final game of Werewolf, MHCC students celebrated Halloween with a night of dancing and festivities.

On Oct. 30, Mt. Hood Community College’s Vista Dining Hall traded its usual dining atmosphere for something a little more sinister. From 6 to 9 p.m., costumed attendees gathered for the college’s annual Dance Till You’re Dead event, an evening filled with music, dancing, sweet treats and a little Halloween mystery.

With a DJ spinning Halloween hits and gothic club classics, the dining hall became a dance floor where attendees could celebrate the spooky season in costume. Whether dressed for fright, fun, or something in between, participants had the opportunity to enjoy an evening away from the usual responsibilities of college life.

But dancing wasn’t the only attraction of the night.

For those with a sweet tooth, chocolate fountains offered an opportunity to coat treats in melted chocolate, adding a little sweetness to the spooky festivities. Elsewhere, attendees could take photographs and videos to capture the evening’s memories while a nearby face-painting station offered another way to embrace the Halloween spirit.

"As the evening drew toward its conclusion, the celebration took a turn from dancing to deception.”

The different activities gave attendees more than one way to participate. Not everyone needed to be on the dance floor to enjoy the evening. Between the music, treats, photographs and face painting, there were opportunities to socialize, get creative and spend time with friends.

And as the evening drew toward its conclusion, the celebration took a turn from dancing to deception.

The night ended with a large group session of Werewolf, a social deduction party game in which players attempt to identify the hidden werewolves among them. With accusations, suspicion and strategy at the heart of the game, it was a fitting conclusion to an evening dedicated to all things Halloween.

While Barney’s Boo Bash brought families and community members together for its own Halloween celebration, Dance Till You’re Dead offered another side of the festivities at MHCC: an opportunity for students and other attendees to connect through music, games and shared experiences.

For one evening, Vista Dining Hall was more than a place to grab a meal. It became a place to dance, laugh, celebrate, and perhaps discover that the most frightening part of Halloween wasn’t the costumes at all, but figuring out who among your friends was secretly a werewolf.