Good, clean fun at the LDS formal dance

Dress: "...modest, neat, clean, and consistent with the values and principles of the LDS church.... A clean, well cared for appearance."According to Kevin Brodowski, age 17, that wasn't too much to ask for in exchange for the opportunity go to the LDS Formal, have some fun dancing, eat great refreshments, and have a photo taken of him and his girl. After taking his date out to dinner, Brodowski and his date headed to The Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts where he said of the formal dance, "It's a lot of fun. It's great. It's great that we have our own church dances...I love to being able to come and just have fun...just have a good time." The successful formal meant a lot to Brodowski, because he was able to help plan the dance with other youths from seven other Stakes of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Garden Grove, Cypress, Huntington Beach North, Huntington Beach, Cerritos, and Downey.About 210 youths purchased the $25 tickets for the formal. Any youth age 16-18 could attend as long as they had their dance card signed by their clergy, or an LDS clergy, and they agreed to abide by LDS dance standards. John Campbell, who has been the Stake Young Men leader for over six years in the Garden Grove Stake, said this is the seventh year the formal has been held. Each year more stakes have been added, and the youths have been invited to attend and help plan the event. He said, "It's grown each year, and it's a very exciting event.""I think its one of the greatest events that we do. It generates a ton of excitement." Campbell said the youths enjoy having an alternative to school dances.The theme for the recent formal, "Once Upon a Time," led to some of the girls dressing up like princesses, and a fairy tale atmosphere. The youths involved in planning the dance chose the theme. Leah Hicken, 18, from Garden Grove Stake, arrived at the formal after having dinner in Long Beach with her date and a group of other youths. She also helped plan the formal. "I liked it. It's a lot of work, and a lot of commitments, but it's worth it," she said. "I love it. I think it's such a good experience, and it's always been fun — last year was too. They just keep getting better, so I know in the future they're just going to be amazing."