Let’s go to the promHigh school dances, or rather the cost of preparing for them, have taken on new proportions in Cyprus
I stumbled into the bedroom where a panic stricken teenager was screaming: “I have a hair appointment at four, then I have to be at the make-up artist’s by five so I can get my face and nails done and then I’ve got to get dressed and ready to leave by nine.” She paused for breath and continued: “And I have to do all this without loosing it and without sweating, ’cause It’ll ruin my make-up!” A bride perhaps? No a 17-year-old girl with a prom to attend.
It wasn’t that long ago since I was prancing around with my best friend in my own bedroom getting ready for the prom yet things have changed so much, I feel as though 30 years have passed. As I walked into the teenager’s poster-plastered bedroom the sense of anxiety in the air was apparent, not only from the state of the bedroom itself – dresses hanging around the wardrobe, shoeboxes scattered on the carpet and four different make-up boxes positioned neatly on the dressing table – but also from the look on the faces of the four youngsters. “We’ve already been to the hairdressers’ but we need a touch up,” said one girl, battling with a hairdryer and her friend’s highlighted fringe.
Although proms in Cyprus have little to do with those seen in movies, teenagers here seem, to a certain extent, to have been swept up in the Americana and have been known to spend more than one third of an average (parent’s) salary on prom necessities.
“One of my daughters attended her prom a couple of years ago and I can still remember how much everything cost because it was a ridiculous sum,” said Toulla Petrou, mother of two prom attendees. “The dress alone cost £180 and the make-up £35 but overall, including hairdresser, shoes, bag and even photographs, I spent £380 on my daughter’s prom. And now, she doesn’t even want to look at those pictures,” she added, “she think she looks tacky.”
Businesses have been quick to jump on the trend and many clothes shops now cater to prom needs, offering numerous gowns and dresses. So popular and organised are the events that in some shops eventhe sales person informs the buyer if the dress they have picked out has been purchased by someone else from the same school. “It’s very important to most of these girls that they have a unique outfit on the night of the prom, so we offer them, what we like to call ‘advice’ as to which gown would be suitable,” explained one shop assistant.
But for many girls on their special night off the peg is not good enough. “My daughter insisted on making a dress at one of the most popular designers in Nicosia,” said one mother, “the dress cost nearly £200 but I really couldn’t say no. They get so excited, it’s a shame to spoil it for them.” And designers are even booked five months in advance for prom dresses.
Back in the hectic bedroom, I was about to lend a helping hand when mother Sara Panayiotou came in to check up on the situation. “Do you know when this whole thing first started?” she asked, peeling clothes off a couch to make some room for at least one person to sit. “Since Christmas, believe it or not. We booked an appointment with the designer during the Christmas holidays to assure my daughter would have a unique dress ready by May.” She went on to explain how she would never dream on spending more than £50 on a dress for herself but was happy to fork out £130 for her daughter’s gown. “And someone even told me I was lucky as her daughter’s gown cost twice as much.” Indeed, many girls have even splashed out on designer gowns, sometimes spending as much as £250.
As with their American counterparts, most proms are held at hotels however, the young attendees have no intention in spending their much-awaited night at one place alone. “We’ll go to the hotel, where the dance is being held, have dinner, dance and then head for the clubs. It’s part of the tradition,” said student Maria Kallenou. The Hilton Park hotel is one of the main hosts. “It is part of our policy not to serve alcohol at proms,” said a spokesman. Although wining and dining at the Hilton Park costs the students £11, student committees have ensured against dissapointment by making arrangements with various clubs for a prepaid entrance fee and drinks. Students from around Nicosia paid a total of £25 for everything including the hotel and the club. “I think most of the schools in Nicosia had organised the after party at Blinkers club,” added Andonis Antoniou, student. “So, basically, we would get in with the prepaid ticket we had and then with five tickets we could get a whole bottle of either vodka or whisky including juices and other side drinks.”
Time was flying by in the girls’ bedroom and so were stockings, lingerie and accessories. Across town a group of boys were preparing for their social event, although it was a little less hectic – the boys all met up at a house fully prepared and ready to go. For the boys, less is best- – a pair of expensive jeans, a black shirt, a tie, while a new pair of black shoes and a single earring lingered on the desk. “The only preparation was buying a new shirt and a new pair of shoes, really,” Costas Shimilis explained. “We know the girls go over the top and frankly, I don’t see what all the fuss is about,” he added. However, I managed to catch a glimpse of the boys apparently having a ‘meeting’ which seemed to indicate they cared more than they admitted to. Bundled up in an older sister’s room, they took turns at using the hair tongs, straightening any stray hairs that would undeniably mess up the look (although one still refused to remove his knitted Nike hat).
Back at the girls’ house everything was going according to plan. Make-up, check. Hair, check. So, last but by no means least, the dresses. As I pulled up zippers and buttoned buttons as the girls had “just had our nails done”, they were busy screaming on their glitzy pink phones. “When are you going to be here? I need to know the exact time,” one said, clearly eager to get into her uncle’s BMW and be on their way. Unlike in the States, limos are not an essential accessory and students make do with BMWs, Mercedes’ and other popular and evidently, expensive cars. Again the boys were a bit more casual: “We have our own cars. We don’t need anyone to drive us there. My Honda is just as good as any other car,” George Chimonas said hopping into his black, spotless Honda, which showed signs of a recent washand polish.
Another prom tradition, Cyprus students seem to disregard are dates. Apparently, it’s not necessary for girls to be picked up from home by their escorts. “I’m meeting her there,” remarked one boy, while the girls explained they had no problem meeting dates outside the hotel. “I have a couple of friends who will be picked up from their house by their boyfriends or escorts but if you don’t have a boyfriend, it’s OK to meet whoever is escorting you there,” explained one of the girls, flatten ing her forest green dress.
For the girls, prom night is the equivalent to Oscar night for celebrities. Everything is carefully planned and organised down to the last detail. Months of preparation and many shoe shops later, they looked fabulous. “I’ll call you tomorrow and tell you how it went,” one of the girls shouted as she stepped into the BMW. The next day, I received a text: “Had a great time at the party, took my shoes off as I couldn’t dance though. Got home at five in the morning.”
