Updated: Oct. 29, 2019 at 12:39 p.m.

About 200 students danced under spiderwebs at the second annual Corcoran Costume Ball Saturday.

The Corcoran School of the Arts and Design transformed into a Halloween-themed venue, where any student could enter for free so long as they dressed in costume. The ball was complete with an array of desserts, spooky decorations and props and alcoholic beverages for those over the age of 21.

Throughout the night, Corcoran students and staff helped to bring the event to life with student actors in costumes and a stunt where a professor was tied up, placed into a bag and lifted up off the ground using a contraption.

Jillian Nakornthap, the ball’s organizer and the exhibitions and public programming associate for the Corcoran, said the signature event was a tradition of the original Corcoran School before it merged with the University in 2014. Nakornthap said she attended the event to ensure students stayed safe throughout the night.

Janis Goodman, a professor of fine arts, said she helped to reinstate the ball last year. Goodman said she wanted to use the event to expose more students to the Corcoran because many students don’t typically explore the space.

“I want students to know that this is their school, too,” she said.

Sophomore Andrea Hinojosa, who dressed as “Elena of Avalor” from the animated Disney series, said she had never been to Corcoran before and that “the setting, in general, is really pretty to look at.” Her costume was a long, red dress portraying the character, a princess inspired by Latin culture.

“I’m Mexican American, so I just thought it would be really cute to wear this costume,” she said.

Freshman James Davis, who dressed as Fidel Castro, said he thought the costume ball was a good event to attend to meet people while he stayed on campus over fall break.

“I’m a music minor, and I thought it would be cool to meet people also in music and in Corcoran in general,” he said.

This post was updated to reflect the following correction:
The Hatchet incorrectly spelled Jillian Nakornthap’s and Janis Goodman’s names. They are now spelled correctly. We regret these errors.