Now here’s a burning question we’re all dying to know… Having nothing better to do than lay in bed with a bad back, I was watching my “Brady Pop-Up Videos” tape. Yes, very intellectual stimuli, I know. Anyhow, in the “Davy Jones” episode, it is said that Davy Jones had never heard of prom until asked to do this episode. So, is there a British equivalent to a prom dance?
Well, what else are you gonna do when you have a bad back?
I reckon Henry Wood might have something to say about that.
I’m not British, but I don’t think there is. I’ve heard English people wonder what a prom is when they see it in an American movie or TV show. It must seem strange that a dance has such life-or-death importance attatched to it.
No, there isn’t a direct equivalent.
You usually have one party or disco at the end of the year for the oldest year group who are finishing, but it’s usually a very tame, non-fancy affair. No real dressing up or pomp to it. Doesn’t stop schools from occasionally calling it a prom, but it isn’t.
I don’t know. My school had a vaguely prom-ish sort of thing (dressing up and so on). You see enough American High School movies and people end up wanting one.
I grew up in New Zealand, which is not the UK but is not dissimilar. We did have School Dances. Sometimes called a Social, or a Formal.
There’s also something here in Australia called a Debutante Ball, but I think that’s pretty universal too.
In Ireland we don’t have proms, but at the end of the summer after you finish school many schools hold a “Debs” (debutante ball). These are often slightly odd affairs due to the widespreadness of single-sex schools, and involve all the students partying wildly with eachother while their dates hang out in the bar attempting to strike up conversation with the other dates 
As Crusoe says. However, in some British universities, notably Oxford and Cambridge, the individual colleges have an annual dinner dance - the May Ball - that have many of the features of a prom. Expensive tickets, lavish entertainment, dinner suit (i.e. tux) / ballgown mandatory, and (at least when I was there) you’re considered a loser if you can’t find anyone to go with.
I seem to recall that there were some May Balls that only sold double tickets (at Cambridge, Trinity and Magdalene iirc), but for most of 'em it was considered perfectly fine to get a single ticket and go with a bunch of mates. Buying a double ticket and then breaking up with your prospective date - now that was a problem, as it necessitated finding a purchaser for half of the ticket.
In my school in England, we had nothing. My graduation went thus: after finishing my A Levels, my friends and I went up to the school to get our results, which were pinned on a wall. Then we lit cigarettes on the school premises, and someone pulled out a bottle of vodka, which we drank in front of our former teachers. That was it.
British schools do not have a prom. They don’t have High School Graduation either. You get qualifications in various subjects (or not, depending on how the exams go), but no overall graduation.
England being England , the May Balls at Oxford and Cambridge are actuall held in June. It’s to confuse the foreigners you know !
Tansu
but for most of 'em it was considered perfectly fine to get a single ticket and go with a bunch of mates.
That was by far the best idea, given that tickets worked on an “all you can eat and drink” basis, and they often hired good bands. Though when I was there (74-77) there was still a massive gender imbalance at Cambridge (m:f 6:1) and the hope of getting a date had more of an edge to it. Whatever … I sympathise with Carrie on the whole issue of proms, school dances, etc.
in northern ireland we have formals.
you can bring a date or go alone, or bring somebody’s brother, doesn’'t really matter.
much like a prom in the limousine, big dress, dancing aspect, but much more formal.
they are held in hotels and have drinks before a sit-down meal and dancing afterwards…with a wet bar open throughout.
most people have champagne with their friends and parents before arriving.
remember most final year students are old enough to drink, and the school can turn a blind eye to the others.
the teachers and their partners are often invited, but as guests, there is no outright supervision.
they are not actually directly related to the school, as the students book the venue, organise the band and fundraise to meet the cost. still the tickets aren’t cheap.
there are usually pre-formal parties for 2 or 3 months leading up to the big day, held in nightclubs, the idea being to raise more money and to find a date!
after the actual formal dance ends there is often a post formal party, again in a nightclub, with yet more drinking and dancing. usually followed by a house party in the early hours.
the teachers are not invited to these!
basically the fun doesn’t stop from 6pm til 6am.
and i think, all told, with tickets, dress, hair, shoes, drink etc i probably spent about £500 of my parent’s money. and i was thrifty.
I had a May Ball when I left college (i.e when I was 18), where it seemed like a US prom; getting drunk wearing a tux with a band playing.
i had a prom last year. got a tux and everything (had my arm in a sling tho). i think it is starting to get introduced into british cultue like many other things from abroad.
It’s the least we could do, since you gave us the Osbournes.
balls:)
where i live there is a prom
i walk on it on sundays and listen to the brass bands play
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