Begowned and -suited prom-goers from Bishop Stang’s graduating class were put through their paces on Friday evening at the school’s annual pre-prom Promenade.

The event saw couples dressed in finery — garb of every color and material, plus plenty of sparkles — celebrating with family and friends before their prom night at Belle Mer in Newport.

Each couple was announced on stage, where they posed for photos and walked down a red carpet before heading out to mingle with classmates and friends while waiting for the buses that would take them to the venue.

Stang seniors Sofia Hirschmann and her date Ben Markert said that they were “super excited” for prom — but they’re even more excited for next year, as Hirschmann is heading to Simmons College in Boston and Markert has taken a spot at Yale.

Said Markert, “It’s weird, it ends so fast….we had tests and projects right up until the last day.”

Exchange students Jose Escobar from El Salvador and Chizumi Kano from Japan were enjoying their first American prom.

They’ve each been living in Dartmouth for more than a year — Kano with her aunt and uncle, and Escobar with his relatives.

“I love it, it’s so pretty,” said Escobar of the town. Kano agreed.

Kano, a senior, will be heading to art school next year for an Architecture and Industrial Design degree at a college in San Francisco.

Escobar is only a sophomore but plans on studying agriculture.

As for the traditional pre-prom promenade, Escobar said he was impressed. “I wasn’t expecting this — it’s so beautiful,” he commented.

Senior Alex Corey and his date Maya Dube were also happy with the start of the evening.

Dube said her favorite part of the night so far was making the most of the rain.

“I think it’s fun, I honestly do,” she said. “Just seeing all my friends walk down — it’s so amazing.”