The room is filled with balloons tied to soda glasses. Girls in pink poodle skirts swirl by you and boys stand against the wall with their thumbs in the pockets of their rolled-up blue jeans. A snapshot is taken of you and as your eyes adjust from the flash, you look down at your feet to find saddle shoes.

The time warp you have stepped into starts at the doors of The Casino at Lakemont Park in Altoona.

At 6:30 p.m. tomorrow, the Allegheny Ballet Company (ABC), an organization made up of pre-professional dancers, will be holding a sock hop at The Casino complete with dinner, dance and, of course, 1950s attire.

The cause for celebration is both to kickoff the ABC's 20th season and to give everyone an excuse to dance.

"We wanted everybody to relax and have fun," said Louisa Lobre-Riley, president of ABC's board of directors.

The sock hop theme is meant in part to turn back the clock to a slower paced time of peace and less worries, Lobre-Riley said

She added that in this present period of high stress it is nice to forget about the current situations of the world for a night and party.

As soon as you walk in your picture is taken at a soda fountain.

Classic '50s entertainment will fill the night.

Winning hula hoop and limbo contests are criteria for obtaining prizes.

In addition, attendees can receive presents at the door.

Hard work at making or searching out fantastic costumes can win the best-dressed prize.

The members of the ABC won't be the only dancers there. A DJ will be spinning tunes.

Anyone is welcome to jive a couple rounds of the jitterbug and other dances from that era.

Fun contests and dancing aren't the only '50s style aspects scheduled to be a part of the night.

Attendees will enjoy roller-skating waitresses, young men wearing signboards and food that seems to come straight from a soda shop.

To give everyone a taste of an upcoming performance of The Nutcracker, the dancers will be giving a mini performance of an undecided play during the event.

The Nutcracker will be performed by the company from Dec. 7 to Dec. 9, at the Mishler Theatre, 1208 Twelfth Ave., Altoona.

"So many former Allegheny Ballet Company dancers are currently enjoying success in nationally recognized ballet companies — and that's really impressive, when one considers the rural area in which we live. That's the reason we are celebrating. We want everybody to enjoy dancing at the hop," said Alicia Lombardo, ABC board vice-president in a press release.

Many are hoping to see a few old faces at the dinner/dance tomorrow.

"We are anticipating over 100 people," said Lobre-Riley. "If you have never seen ABC perform, this is a good place to do it."

For tickets, call the Allegheny Ballet Company at (814) 941-9944.