Teens decide to hold an alternative to the prom

The flier handed out to James River High School students read: "Disappointed with prom expectations?"

Apparently, a few students at the Chesterfield County school are, and it all started with homecoming.

Senior Courtney Zamparallo said the fall dance was a bust.

A lot of students left early because "it was very restricted," she said, recalling how administrators stood on a platform near the disc-jockey stand with a spotlight to zero in on students who were dancing inappropriately. They marked students' hands for the first offense and asked them after the second offense.

Bad words were bleeped out of songs, but when kids sang the lyrics anyway, those songs were turned off.

With their senior prom next month, Zamparello and her friends wanted a night to remember. But given the same rules will apply at prom as at homecoming, they weren't optimistic.

So Zamparello and senior Rachel Tilghman planned an alternative prom - called "Redefine 2009" - for May 24 at Have A Nice Day Café in Richmond's Shockoe Bottom. It's the weekend after James River's May 16 dance.

"Formal wear in the fashion of your choice and dancing in whatever way you see fit!" reads the flier that Zamparello and Tilghman gave out to students two weeks ago.

Translation: The music won't be censored, so-called stuffy dress codes will be thrown out and club security - not math teachers or assistant principals - will oversee the roughly 370 students expected to attend the event.

James River's principal, John Titus, said Zamparello and her friends made him aware of their plans early on.

"I was most impressed that they felt it important to have a conversation with me," he said. "They were very sensitive [in that] they didn't want this to be seen as a put down of the school prom."

He agrees that it's harder nowadays to monitor dances.

Rules have always been there, he said, but school officials are now more upfront about what's expected so they can avoid being the bad guys on prom night when kids break the rules.

"We're not rebelling in any way" against the school's prom, said Zamparello, who said she still plans to go to her school's prom. "But it's our senior year. We didn't want [prom] to be a downer."

Zamparello said students younger than 18 need a parent's permission to buy tickets, which, she pointed out, are cheaper than regular prom tickets - $10 per person or $16 per couple. Food will be provided.

Some James River students are psyched about "Redefine 2009."

"We can actually dance and have a good time," said senior Nolan Jez, who also plans to go to James River's prom.

"It's just something that you have to do," he said, of the traditional prom experience. But having an off-site prom means "people can actually be in their own environment. It'll be good."

Contact Holly Prestidge at (804) 649-6945 or .