No Fights, Medical Calls Reported at Backwoods Student Dance

No ambulances were called and no fights went down at the Backwoods student dance in Ridgewood Friday night, one organizers said was the best in Backwoods history.

About 1,000 students packed Van Neste Square for the "Cerulean" dance under the watchful eye of 11 police officers and 16 parents, Backwoods organizer David Zrike said. DJ Matt Drier spun while lasers fired around the pavillion.

"It's been great – it's been the smoothest event of all," Zrike told Patch. "The students had a great time."

Ridgewood Police Sgt. Heath James said zero fights were observed Friday night. Organizers said there were no students transported to Valley Hospital.

Roughly "a dozen" reports of suspected intoxication or other illegal behavior were brought to the attention of police during the dance, according to Zrike. Police could not immediately disclose a figure Friday night, but James said the incidents represented "about one percent" of the crowd.

Backwoods was formed in 2011 as a civic organization to provide Ridgewood teens fun-but-sober activities. It arose following comments from former Ridgewood High School principal Jack Lorenz, who said student drinking was "out of control."

Though the vast majority of teens were well behaved at previous dances, concerns were raised over pre-gaming, the sneaking of liquor into the square, alcohol poisoning reports, as well as several fights.

"The increased number of officers helped," James said. "Everybody behaved for the most part."

To enter the dance, attendees were required to be checked out by the police at the gate.