Clare Bernheisel - Reporter
The Miss DHS dance began in 1984 thanks to Spanish teacher and then-Student Council President Lori Finley. These photos are from 1984, the first year that the dance was held in conjunction with the Miss DHS contest.
As the first semester winds down at DHS, students begin preparing for the Miss DHS Dance, a formal dance for everyone in the school. Students look forward to getting dressed up, taking pictures with their friends, and dancing the night away.
However, most students don’t know that the dance was actually started by a current DHS staff member.
When Spanish teacher Lori Finley attended Dyersburg High School in 1984, the school didn’t host a prom or any kind of formal dance.
“There were clubs outside of school that held formal dances, so there wasn't as much interest in having one at school,” Finley said.
While the school did crown a student as Miss DHS, there was no ceremony and the student body did not find out who Miss DHS was until the yearbook was released at the end of the year. “I always thought being Miss DHS was a real honor and should be recognized before the yearbook came out in April,” Finley said.
Finley approached the then-principal Tommy Cross and gave her proposal for the Miss DHS dance. She was the president of the Student Council at the time and took over planning the dance once her idea was approved.
The dance used to include a dinner for the students. “It evolved into a really nice community reception and dance. Now I think it is more like a dance with food. I think students are happy with that format,” Finley said.
To this day, Finley enjoys seeing the students getting dressed up and having fun. “It is a big deal for some people and it makes me happy that I was a part of that,” Finley said.
Finley also mentioned that she wishes students had the chance to learn how to formally dance. She suggested that DMS English teacher Sharon Carr and DHS science teacher Kavin Carr give dance lessons to students. “Dancing can be fun if you know how,” Finley said.
Since its inception, Miss DHS has been a highlight of the school year and of the holiday season.
“I hope the dance continues to be a highlight of the year for the students,” Finley said. “These are the things students remember forever.”
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