A crush party (also known as a crush dance) is an established event within the American fraternity system, organized by both fraternities and sororities. This guide explains the concept and the usual procedures.
Basic concept and organization
The basis of a Crush Party is a structured nomination process:
- Each member of the fraternity can nominate 3-5 people
- These nominations are based on romantic interest or a desire to get to know the person better
- The organizers collect this information confidentially
- The nominated people receive an invitation to the event
Forms of procedure
In the standard form, the invited persons do not know who nominated them. This allows for casual interactions during the event. Two further variants have been developed:
Secret Crush
- The assignment between nominating and nominated persons is only announced at the end of the event
- This increases the excitement and allows for unbiased conversations
Mutual Crush
- If two people have nominated each other, they will be informed during the event
- This can serve as a conversation starter
Function in the sorority life
The Crush Party fulfills several social functions:
- It facilitates making new contacts outside of one’s own sorority
- The structured form reduces social barriers
- It promotes networking between different Greek organizations
Organizational notes
- A number of factors are important for the success of a Crush Party:
- Strict confidentiality in the treatment of nominations
- Clear communication of the rules to all participants
- Sufficient time for casual conversation
- Optional: Icebreaker activities at the beginning of the event
This type of event is particularly relevant in the first semesters after joining a fraternity, as it promotes new social connections within the Greek system.
