Guild Ball 2021: Deep Space

~Bec~

Another year, another Guild Ball. Another night of excuses to dress up, drink heavily and dance wildly; we pretend not to see the late nights, red-bull-fuelled anxiety and piles of unwatched lectures that creep to us as semester closes, has been, and has gone. Toted as ‘Deep Space’, it truly felt like a journey across the ether (or at least, I thought so, in my heels) as, upon arriving, we walked, and walked, through the expanses of the stadium to arrive at the ball room, though it was arguably worth it. Everything was washed in blue and purple lights with starry projections, and the windows opened onto the real night-time scape of the city. Definitely a high-class venue.

Image Credit: Iyke Zachariah

While the food was nothing incredible (though welcome soakage after the open bar), and the alcohol lines were often long, the atmosphere of the night was genuinely really lovely; the loud music and binge drinking was punctuated with a lot of laughter, conversations that grew increasingly louder, TikTok songs (So. Many. Tiktok. Songs) and some very wholesome chats and compliments in the girls’ bathrooms. For me, the highlight was seeing people dressed up so beautifully; I was constantly in awe of how stunning everyone looked. But also, just witnessing the way that people came together to celebrate another year, and dance off their woes, was really important. Maybe it was the wine (quite a lot of wine), but I felt, so explicitly, this sense of love between people. This time last year, when many balls were still being cancelled, postponed or minimised, to dance with people, hug them and drink with them was, for me, such a poignant thing after the turmoil of 2020, and something I thought made the night so much more special.

Image Credit: Iyke Zachariah

~Tess~

Students are still struggling to return to normality at Curtin, with the effects of COVID-19 lingering… So the Guild Ball was an event that any Curtin student could enjoy, together, no matter which faculty they belonged to. This distinguishes the Guild Ball from many others that Curtin hosts, as there’s not many balls where you’ll find an Arts student talking to someone studying Epidemiology. It made the ball all the more intriguing for guests to attend, and this aspect of the ball certainly shone through the darkly lit dance floor and flickering lights. With different outfits, hair styles, shoe heights and make-up looks making their way to the extremely popular photo booth, it was a mixed-faculty, motley crew from beginning to end.

Image Credit: Iyke Zachariah

Deep Space was a night of boogying on the dance floor (but no glasses please!), saying hello to old uni friends, and high-quality people-watching. Curtin is known for its accepting, inclusive and empowering Guild and campus, which promotes LGBTQI+ safety on campus, ally-friendly support and advocacy for our First Nations people, and improving accessibility for students living with a disability. But this doesn’t stop at the student parking lot, it flows into the core of its students and certainly into the ballroom for the Guild Ball. It was a pleasure to attend and it makes me proud to be a Curtin student (alumni)! (Sad face.)