A prom wasn’t always a 24-hour affair — with all-day primping, a limo, dinner, grand march and overnight after-party. Once upon a time, kids dressed in the best they had and danced the night away in a high school gym decorated with streamers and tissue paper flowers.

On Sept. 28, more than 100 folks relived those simpler times during A Royal Nite Out in the Regional Family YMCA of Laurel Highlands near Mt. Pleasant.

The evening was billed as the inaugural senior prom hosted by the Y and the Twilight Wish Foundation Westmoreland County chapter.

The Twilight Wish motto is, ” Celebrating seniors and making dreams come true.”

The evening was the stuff of dreams, with food and beverages, drawings and prizes, entertainment and, of course, dancing. For those not confident in their free-styling dance skills, there was impromptu instruction for both line dancing and the macarena.

Antolena Damico, a 13-year-old songstress from Penn Township, wowed the crowd with her big voice, luring dozens onto the dance floor with her rendition of ABBA’s (what else?) “Dancing Queen.”

Damico said she’s been singing since age 3, and has performed the national anthem at PNC Park and Heinz Field; for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Pitt and Duquesne sporting events; and at festivals around the area.

She was accompanied by her parents, Juliann and Brian Damico, and grandmother, Kathryn Mannella.

Prom committee members included Julie Alakson, Kevin and Jeanie Bock, Tammy Keefer, Phil Mickens, Joyce Prutz, Deborah Salopek and Michelle Van Horn, along with Twilight Wish volunteers Christy Stahl, Norma Mosser and Danielle Brown.

Seen: Lenore Rollinson, Allen Geska, Glenn and Catherine Cavanaugh, Charles and Diane Dumbauld, Rose Bierer, Joanne Ritenour, Bill and France Kute, Judy Gross and Vern Kalp.

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