The crowd waited with phones hovering in the air, ready to record. A limousine pulled up to the crowd, and enthusiastic applause and cheers greeted the couples who walked down a red carpet to attend the third annual A Night to Remember prom on Saturday night.

A Night to Remember, hosted by Mission Church, located at the previous Century 16 theater, is a prom for students with disabilities and special needs. Anyone from age 12-25 with disabilities or special needs may attend, cost free.

“We started two and a half years ago,” said Pastor Mike Hickerson of Mission Church, one of the people in charge of the event. “We want to throw parties that have no strings attached. They’re free. They’re for people that are overlooked or under-celebrated.”

Tuxedos and dresses were provided for the guests, with dresses donated by Mission Church. Hair and makeup was done by professional volunteers.

Gretchen Marrufo, a first time volunteer, did makeup for the guests, and plans on participating in A Night to Remember next year. Marrufo was excited to help.

“I’m doing their makeup and hopefully making them feel really pretty by the time they leave,” she said. “So far they seem really pleased.”

Guests checked into a hall located on the left-hand side of the building. After getting their hair and makeup done, they were matched up with a host who acted as a “date” for the night.

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Amy Neidiffer, a student from Buena High School heard, of the event through a friend’s Twitter post. Neidiffer said she was most looking forward to the dancing.

The couples then got into a limousine that drove them around the building. They were then greeted by a cheering crowd of “paparazzi” as they walked down the red carpet to the main floor.

Dancing and smiles were abundant on the dance floor as upbeat music blasted through the building. For those who were too sensitive to the music or who wanted a quiet place to rest, a Family Room was set up in one of the projection rooms. A large screen showed a livefeed of the dance floor, so those in the room still felt like they were participating.

The theme this year was Hollywood, with elegant white couches and black chairs surrounding the dance floor. Pictures of glamorous celebrities such as Elvis Presley and Audrey Hepburn were framed on the wall.

A food bar was set up for everyone in attendance, with food ranging from popcorn to fruit to candy. The catering was provided by Lane Johnson. Couples could also take formal pictures as well as silly pictures complete with costumes.

Volunteers ranged from Anacapa Middle School to Buena High School to Foothill Technology High School to even Ventura College students.

Anacapa eighth graders Amanda Malotte and Pearl Esparza were both first-time volunteers at the event.

“It’s awesome. I think it’s great for everybody,” Malotte said, while Esparza added, “ I think it’s really great how we’re all helping each other out. Making sure that [the guests] know that if they have an impairment, you still get to take part in a lot of cool things too.”

Hosts and guests danced the night away to famous dance hits such as “YMCA,” “Macarena,” “Gangnam Style,” “Thriller,” “Time Warp,” and “Cha Cha Slide.” Modern hits such as “Wake Me Up” by Avicii and “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen were contrasted with older hits such as “Everybody” by the Backstreet Boys and “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” by Michael Jackson.

Bruno Mars was very popular with his hits “Just the Way You Are” and “Count on Me” attracting lots of cheering and dancing.

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Three conga lines weaved their way through the main floor on three separate occasions throughout the night.

Junior Christopher Mercado from Newbury Park High School said, with a smile on his face, “I’m having fun with Ana [my date] because she’s the best dancer and I’m the best dancer.”

Mercado’s mother Caroline Mercado talked about how happy her son was. “He was so excited to know that he was going to get a tuxedo and get on a limo ride and come here and dance and have fun.”

Caroline Mercado was thrilled that the church, “can see that these kids need to have fun also just like their brothers or sisters that get to go to prom.”

“It brings a lot of equality to the room,” Hickerson said. “It changes a lot of perspectives and it’s a lot of fun.”

Background Photo Credit: Aysen Tan/The Foothill Dragon Press