I guess I don't get it.
Had no real interest in going to dances at that age, we had plenty of other unsupervised things we would much rather be doing at the time.
I did get asked to a prom twice and went both times, but going to the actual dance was a 15 minute ordeal... see a few faces, get your picture taken, say kiss my arse, then leave. There were far too many other interesting events to attend than hanging around that place if you didn't have to.
I had an interesting group in my school. I was friends with the rich kids and the greasy party animals at the same time... and I was neither. Somehow I managed to fit in on both sides and no one ever tried to categorize me. We just had a lot of good people in my school, so I don't have the carry-over hatred that I see a lot of people display.
I do find it entertaining that the DUmpasses put some sort of value on being asked to a HS dance though. I hope it tortures them for all of their days