Prom has become a rite of passage for most teenagers; however, the increasingly high costs of prom prevent many girls from attending this magical night.

To keep life and those fire-and-ice corsages smelling like roses, the Ballroom Blitz is helping.

On Saturday, April 12, the Ballroom Blitz opens for two days at the Kozlov Centre in Barrie, to provide Grade 12 girls from across Simcoe County (Collingwood to Orillia and south to Bradford) with a free prom dress. A line-up is expected when the doors open Saturday at 9 a.m.

All the graduating high school girl needs is her student card for proof of enrolment and patience to wait in line until a personal shopper can escort them through the boutique. The girls are allowed to bring one person to accompany them into the boutique - their mother or guardian, or boyfriend.

There are more than 800 gowns to choose from and most are new, donated from retail stores and directly from the manufacturers.

The doors to the boutique are open to Grade 8 students and the general public at 10 a.m. on Sunday, April 13, where a $40 donation will get you a gorgeous gown.

All the money from the donations is used to replenish the gowns and accessories for next year’s group of graduating students.

While the dress collection drive is finished for this prom season, you are still able to help. A donation of $40 buys a dress for a girl to go to prom. Donations can be dropped off in the offices of the Kozlov Centre, 400 Bayfield St., Barrie.

The Ballroom Blitz is a volunteer community focused organization that operates this yearly event to help make dreams a reality for high school girls.

For more information and rules of the boutique, click the link provided.  www.ballroom-blitz.org