{"id":1815656,"date":"2026-03-09T10:29:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T07:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1815656"},"modified":"2026-03-09T10:29:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T07:29:00","slug":"alice-manns-photos-depict-the-glamour-of-south-africas-prom-nights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1815656","title":{"rendered":"Alice Mann\u2019s photos depict the glamour of South Africa\u2019s prom nights"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1200\/0-0-2048-1365\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/0\/1440987.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"main-article standard \">\n<div class=\"article-main-content article-wrapper has-media-but-its-an-image\" data-status=\"loaded\" data-primary-article=\"true\" data-url=\"\/art-photography\/article\/69856\/1\/alice-mann-the-night-is-young-prom-matric-ball-south-africa-photo-book\" data-article-id=\"69856\">\n<header class=\"article-header has-landscape-image no-media\">\n<div class=\"wrapper dg-max-width\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<figure class=\"main-img has-figcaption\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.25\" data-template=\"Standard Article\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Alice Mann, The Night Is Young\" class=\"img\" height=\"1638\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1400\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/0\/1440987.jpg\" width=\"2048\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"inner\"><span class=\"credit\">All images courtesy of the artist <span class=\"nowrap\">\/ IDEA<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"meta\">\n<div class=\"inner\"><time datetime=\"2026-03-09T10:29:00+00:00\" class=\"timestamp\" title=\"09 March 2026\"><span class=\"month\">March<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"day\" data-day=\"9\">9,<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"year\">2026<\/span><\/time><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<div class=\"titles\">\n<div class=\"tags\">\n<div class=\"sections\"><a class=\"category vertical - art-photography\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\">Art &amp; Photography<\/a><br \/>\n\/<br \/>\n<a class=\"series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/the-spring-2026-issue\">The Spring 2026 Issue<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"standard-tag-container\"><a class=\"standard-category\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\">Art &amp; Photography<\/a> \/<br \/>\n<a class=\"standard-series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/the-spring-2026-issue\">The Spring 2026 Issue<\/a><\/div>\n<h1 class=\"title\"><span>Alice Mann\u2019s photos depict the glamour of South Africa\u2019s <span class=\"nowrap\">prom nights<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n<div class=\"standfirst\">\n<h2>The Night Is Young chronicles the rite of passage of matric balls, when school leavers can \u2018feel <span class=\"nowrap\">like celebrities\u2019<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p><time datetime=\"2026-03-09T10:29:00+00:00\" class=\"timestamp\" title=\"09 March 2026\"><span class=\"month\">March<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"day\" data-day=\"9\">9,<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"year\">2026<\/span><\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><time datetime=\"2026-03-09T10:29:00+00:00\" class=\"timestamp\" title=\"09 March 2026\"><span class=\"month\">March<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"day\" data-day=\"9\">9,<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"year\">2026<\/span><\/time><\/p>\n<div class=\"providers\">\n<div class=\"contributors\"><span class=\"contributor\" data-contributor-role=\"Text\"><span class=\"contributor-role\">Text<\/span><a class=\"contributor-name\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/user\/EmilyDinsdale\">Emily Dinsdale<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"article-body-container\">\n<div class=\"article-body wrapper\">\n<div class=\"dazed-gallery has-9-images \">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<header>\n<div class=\"info\"><span class=\"heading\">Alice Mann, The Night <span class=\"nowrap\">Is Young<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"gallery\">\n<div class=\"gallery-thumbs\">\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/gallery\/36819\/0\/alice-mann-the-night-is-young\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Alice Mann, The Night Is Young\" class=\"img\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-176-1080-720\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/0\/1440983.jpg\" width=\"1080\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/gallery\/36819\/1\/alice-mann-the-night-is-young\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Alice Mann, The Night Is Young\" class=\"img\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-186-1080-720\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/0\/1440984.jpg\" width=\"1080\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/gallery\/36819\/2\/alice-mann-the-night-is-young\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Alice Mann, The Night Is Young\" class=\"img\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-254-2048-1365\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/0\/1440985.jpg\" width=\"2048\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/gallery\/36819\/3\/alice-mann-the-night-is-young\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Alice Mann, The Night Is Young\" class=\"img\" height=\"1220\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/123-356-1831-1220\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/0\/1440986.jpg\" width=\"1831\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/gallery\/36819\/4\/alice-mann-the-night-is-young\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Alice Mann, The Night Is Young\" class=\"img\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-0-2048-1365\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/0\/1440987.jpg\" width=\"2048\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/gallery\/36819\/5\/alice-mann-the-night-is-young\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Alice Mann, The Night Is Young\" class=\"img\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-0-2048-1365\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/0\/1440988.jpg\" width=\"2048\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-footer\">Gallery \/ 9 images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span><em>This gallery is taken from the spring 2026 issue of Dazed. Buy a copy of the magazine\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.boutiquemags.com\/dazed.html\">here<\/a>.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>For high school students in South Africa, prom \u2013 or the \u201cmatric ball\u201d <\/span><span>\u2013 represents the most aspirational rite of passage of their teenage years. <\/span><span>More than just a graduation celebration, the event gestures toward <\/span><span>adulthood while also promising to fulfil a unique fantasy. \u201cIt\u2019s this one night where you can show people exactly who you want to be. You can <\/span><span>be anybody. They feel like celebrities,\u201d explains photographer Alice <\/span><span>Mann, whose latest photobook, <\/span><em><span>The Night Is Young<\/span><\/em><span>, presents poignant, <\/span><span>life-affirming portraits from graduation dances at high schools in Johannesburg, Pretoria and her birthplace of Cape Town.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Every detail of clothing, hair and make-up is meticulously planned and executed. Police often close off roads surrounding schools to make <\/span><span>way for students arriving for their red-carpet moment. \u201cOne student arrived on a horse and cart,\u201d says Mann, who shot the series between <\/span><span>2018 and 2023. \u201cAnd there was another whose dad was in a motorcycle <\/span><span>gang, so he drove her on the back of his bike, preceded by the whole gang.\u201d It\u2019s an opportunity to indulge in the kind of theatricality and glamour that isn\u2019t part of everyday life. Mann\u2019s portraits show the boys in sharp, often flamboyant tailoring, while \u201csome of the girls channel a Kardashian energy\u201d and others \u201cjust want to be princesses\u201d. One student, pictured below, opted for a more fantastical look, <\/span><span>arriving at the dance wearing elaborate angel wings. \u201cIt\u2019s about making <\/span><span>an absolute statement,\u201d the photographer explains.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"137b11ec-9e71-40c0-9ad6-b40800896423\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1080\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/0\/1440989.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"portrait\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"0.8\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"portrait\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Alice Mann, The Night Is Young\" class=\"img\" height=\"1350\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/0\/1440989.jpg\" width=\"1080\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"caption\">Stacey George, Atlantis High School, Cape <span class=\"nowrap\">Town, 2019<\/span><\/span><span class=\"credit\">All images courtesy of the artist <span class=\"nowrap\">\/ IDEA<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Moving between formal portraits and febrile post-dinner party shots, where South African house music is \u201cblasting\u201d and decorum is <\/span><span>discarded along with high heels, Mann\u2019s pictures distil the hopefulness <\/span><span>and jubilation of a feverishly anticipated evening. \u201cThe tension of the <\/span><span>whole night is just released onto the dancefloor,\u201d says the photographer. <\/span><span>While prom offers students the chance to enact a fantasy, it\u2019s also <\/span><span>grounded in a very real sense of achievement. \u201cHaving reached the final <\/span><span>year of high school and knowing you\u2019re going to graduate is massive,\u201d <\/span><span>says Mann. \u201cYou\u2019ve made it; you didn\u2019t drop out. You could be the first <\/span><span>in your family to do that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Not every student who graduates from high school can afford to <\/span><span>attend their matric ball, as celebrations become ever more \u201cextra\u201d due, <\/span><span>Mann suspects, to the influence of social media. A guiding principle <\/span><span>of <\/span><em><span>The Night Is Young <\/span><\/em><span>was to reflect and acknowledge the complexities <\/span><span>and inequalities of contemporary South Africa, but Mann wanted to approach this from a more oblique \u2013 and optimistic \u2013 angle than she usually sees in representations of the country\u2019s youth culture. \u201cIt is still a place with a lot of divisions and gaps in terms of wealth, but this was a softer way of exploring that,\u201d she explains. \u201cStudents feel like anything is possible on these nights; it\u2019s very beautiful. The general feeling is one of so much hope and joy \u2013 they all feel their best and all their families are there to celebrate them. Capturing that energy was <\/span><span>something I wanted to do, in terms of exploring South African imagery <\/span><span>with more positive associations.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ideanow.online\/alicemann\">The Night Is Young<\/a><em><span> is out on March 12 via IDEA.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-inline-last\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-small\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<h1 class=\"newsletter-title\">Escape the algorithm! Get The Drop<\/h1>\n<div class=\"meta-row\">\n<p class=\"meta\">Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"confirmation\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p class=\"confirmation-title\">Thank you. You have been subscribed<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<footer class=\"article-footer\">\n<div class=\"wrapper\">\n<div class=\"article-series\">\n<h4 class=\"heading\">More on these topics<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-series\"><a class=\"series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\">Art &amp; Photography<\/a><a class=\"series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/the-spring-2026-issue\">The Spring 2026 Issue<\/a><a class=\"series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/feature\">Feature<\/a><a class=\"series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/tag\/high-school\">high-school<\/a><a class=\"series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/tag\/photo-books\">Photo Books<\/a><a class=\"series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/tag\/portraits\">Portraits<\/a><a class=\"series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/tag\/south-africa\">South Africa<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<div class=\"grid\">\n<div class=\"lava-lamp\">\n<div class=\"lava-lamp-text-container\">\n<h3 class=\"lava-lamp-subheading\">Expand your creative community and connect with 15,000 creatives from around the world.<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid section-header\">\n<div class=\"section-header__link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/article\/69856\/1\/art-photography\"><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"section-header__title\">READ MORE<\/h2>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid tag-article-list\">\n<div class=\"swiper swiper-latest\">\n<div class=\"swiper-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"swiper-slide list-element\">\n<div class=\"scard-latest__section\">\n<div class=\"card-latest__wrapper\"><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/article\/69830\/1\/paul-mpagi-sepuya-shoot-zine-nudes-photography-magazine-photo-book\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Paul Mpagi Sepuya, SHOOT\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-396-1800-1197\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/0\/1440414.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">These playfully erotic zines capture Williamsburg\u2019s 00s art scene<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/article\/69805\/1\/collier-schorr-problems-and-other-stories-photographer-paris-interview\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Collier Schorr, Problems and Other Stories\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/260-863-1827-1215\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/0\/1440290.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">\u2018This show is like a world\u2019: Collier Schorr on her major new exhibition<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/article\/69779\/1\/the-rise-of-esdeekid-tracks-gucci-afterparty-aw26-milan\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Gucci_Dazed_270226-29-SzymonStepniak\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-733-1366-908\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439451.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">The rise of EsDeeKid in 5 tracks<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"swiper-slide list-element\">\n<div class=\"scard-latest__section\">\n<div class=\"card-latest__wrapper\"><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/article\/69827\/1\/la-dolce-vita-these-photos-explore-cortina-beyond-the-olympic-hype-arturo-bamboo\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"CORTINA by Arturo and Bamboo\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-1-1787-1189\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/0\/1440350.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">La dolce vita: These photos explore Cortina beyond the Olympic hype<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/article\/69821\/1\/dazed-club-handpicked-this-curator-for-a-new-show-in-london\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Newsletter \u2013 2\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-0-1624-1080\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/0\/1440245.png\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Dazed Club handpicked this curator for a new show in London<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/fashion\/article\/69744\/1\/ganni-harley-weir-spring-summer-2026-maggie-maurer\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\">\n<p class=\"optional-paragraph\"> GANNI<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GANNI_SS26-CAMPAIGN_4X5_1\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-610-2399-1596\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/8\/1438662.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">GANNI is yearning for a dreamy summer \u2013 and so are we <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"swiper-slide list-element\">\n<div class=\"scard-latest__section\">\n<div class=\"card-latest__wrapper\"><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/article\/69799\/1\/catherine-opie-to-be-seen-npg-exhibition-london-interview-photography\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Pig Pen by Catherine Opie, 1993 &#169; Catherine Opie\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-407-2100-1396\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/3\/1433996.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Catherine Opie on \u2018perverts\u2019, Heated Rivalry and photographing neo-Nazis<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/article\/69791\/1\/chloe-kerleroux-modulo-2-womens-prison-mexico-photo-project-documentary\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-0-2974-1978\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439826.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Candid photos capture life inside a women\u2019s prison in Mexico<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/article\/69777\/1\/larry-sultan-water-over-thunder-selected-writings-life-lessons-mack-photo-book\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Larry Sultan, Water Over Thunder: Selected Writings \" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-148-1575-1047\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439436.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Life lessons from the legendary photographer Larry Sultan<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"swiper-slide list-element\">\n<div class=\"scard-latest__section\">\n<div class=\"card-latest__wrapper\"><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/article\/69770\/1\/dykes-emily-lipson-photo-book-queer-portraits-lesbians-photography\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Emily Lipson, Dykes\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-220-2308-1535\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439324.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">These intimate photos show the multiplicity of \u2018Dykes\u2019<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/article\/69768\/1\/most-loved-photo-stories-from-february-2026\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Miranda Barnes, Social Season, Important Flowers\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-1-1575-1048\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/6\/1436676.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">The most loved photo stories from February 2026<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/article\/69763\/1\/arts-shows-eave-the-house-for-march-2026-london-nyc-la-margate-amsterdam\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Ezekiel, Somewhere between a dog and a doll, photo book\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-2-3000-1995\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/1\/1431245.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">The best art and photography shows to see in March 2026<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-inline\" data-newsletter hidden>\n<div class=\"newsletter-small\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<h1 class=\"newsletter-title\">Escape the algorithm! Get The Drop<\/h1>\n<div class=\"meta-row\">\n<p class=\"meta\">Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"confirmation\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p class=\"confirmation-title\">Thank you. You have been subscribed<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"article-body wrapper\">\n<div class=\"dazed-gallery has-9-images \">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<header>\n<div class=\"info\"><span class=\"heading\">Alice Mann, The Night <span class=\"nowrap\">Is Young<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"gallery\">\n<div class=\"gallery-thumbs\">\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/gallery\/36819\/0\/alice-mann-the-night-is-young\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Alice Mann, The Night Is Young\" class=\"img\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-176-1080-720\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/0\/1440983.jpg\" width=\"1080\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/gallery\/36819\/1\/alice-mann-the-night-is-young\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Alice Mann, The Night Is Young\" class=\"img\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-186-1080-720\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/0\/1440984.jpg\" width=\"1080\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/gallery\/36819\/2\/alice-mann-the-night-is-young\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Alice Mann, The Night Is Young\" class=\"img\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-254-2048-1365\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/0\/1440985.jpg\" width=\"2048\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/gallery\/36819\/3\/alice-mann-the-night-is-young\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Alice Mann, The Night Is Young\" class=\"img\" height=\"1220\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/123-356-1831-1220\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/0\/1440986.jpg\" width=\"1831\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/gallery\/36819\/4\/alice-mann-the-night-is-young\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Alice Mann, The Night Is Young\" class=\"img\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-0-2048-1365\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/0\/1440987.jpg\" width=\"2048\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/gallery\/36819\/5\/alice-mann-the-night-is-young\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Alice Mann, The Night Is Young\" class=\"img\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-0-2048-1365\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/0\/1440988.jpg\" width=\"2048\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-footer\">Gallery \/ 9 images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span><em>This gallery is taken from the spring 2026 issue of Dazed. Buy a copy of the magazine\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.boutiquemags.com\/dazed.html\">here<\/a>.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>For high school students in South Africa, prom \u2013 or the \u201cmatric ball\u201d <\/span><span>\u2013 represents the most aspirational rite of passage of their teenage years. <\/span><span>More than just a graduation celebration, the event gestures toward <\/span><span>adulthood while also promising to fulfil a unique fantasy. \u201cIt\u2019s this one night where you can show people exactly who you want to be. You can <\/span><span>be anybody. They feel like celebrities,\u201d explains photographer Alice <\/span><span>Mann, whose latest photobook, <\/span><em><span>The Night Is Young<\/span><\/em><span>, presents poignant, <\/span><span>life-affirming portraits from graduation dances at high schools in Johannesburg, Pretoria and her birthplace of Cape Town.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Every detail of clothing, hair and make-up is meticulously planned and executed. Police often close off roads surrounding schools to make <\/span><span>way for students arriving for their red-carpet moment. \u201cOne student arrived on a horse and cart,\u201d says Mann, who shot the series between <\/span><span>2018 and 2023. \u201cAnd there was another whose dad was in a motorcycle <\/span><span>gang, so he drove her on the back of his bike, preceded by the whole gang.\u201d It\u2019s an opportunity to indulge in the kind of theatricality and glamour that isn\u2019t part of everyday life. Mann\u2019s portraits show the boys in sharp, often flamboyant tailoring, while \u201csome of the girls channel a Kardashian energy\u201d and others \u201cjust want to be princesses\u201d. One student, pictured below, opted for a more fantastical look, <\/span><span>arriving at the dance wearing elaborate angel wings. \u201cIt\u2019s about making <\/span><span>an absolute statement,\u201d the photographer explains.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"137b11ec-9e71-40c0-9ad6-b40800896423\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1080\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/0\/1440989.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"portrait\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"0.8\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"portrait\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Alice Mann, The Night Is Young\" class=\"img\" height=\"1350\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/0\/1440989.jpg\" width=\"1080\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"caption\">Stacey George, Atlantis High School, Cape <span class=\"nowrap\">Town, 2019<\/span><\/span><span class=\"credit\">All images courtesy of the artist <span class=\"nowrap\">\/ IDEA<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Moving between formal portraits and febrile post-dinner party shots, where South African house music is \u201cblasting\u201d and decorum is <\/span><span>discarded along with high heels, Mann\u2019s pictures distil the hopefulness <\/span><span>and jubilation of a feverishly anticipated evening. \u201cThe tension of the <\/span><span>whole night is just released onto the dancefloor,\u201d says the photographer. <\/span><span>While prom offers students the chance to enact a fantasy, it\u2019s also <\/span><span>grounded in a very real sense of achievement. \u201cHaving reached the final <\/span><span>year of high school and knowing you\u2019re going to graduate is massive,\u201d <\/span><span>says Mann. \u201cYou\u2019ve made it; you didn\u2019t drop out. You could be the first <\/span><span>in your family to do that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Not every student who graduates from high school can afford to <\/span><span>attend their matric ball, as celebrations become ever more \u201cextra\u201d due, <\/span><span>Mann suspects, to the influence of social media. A guiding principle <\/span><span>of <\/span><em><span>The Night Is Young <\/span><\/em><span>was to reflect and acknowledge the complexities <\/span><span>and inequalities of contemporary South Africa, but Mann wanted to approach this from a more oblique \u2013 and optimistic \u2013 angle than she usually sees in representations of the country\u2019s youth culture. \u201cIt is still a place with a lot of divisions and gaps in terms of wealth, but this was a softer way of exploring that,\u201d she explains. \u201cStudents feel like anything is possible on these nights; it\u2019s very beautiful. The general feeling is one of so much hope and joy \u2013 they all feel their best and all their families are there to celebrate them. Capturing that energy was <\/span><span>something I wanted to do, in terms of exploring South African imagery <\/span><span>with more positive associations.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ideanow.online\/alicemann\">The Night Is Young<\/a><em><span> is out on March 12 via IDEA.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-inline-last\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-small\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<h1 class=\"newsletter-title\">Escape the algorithm! Get The Drop<\/h1>\n<div class=\"meta-row\">\n<p class=\"meta\">Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"confirmation\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p class=\"confirmation-title\">Thank you. You have been subscribed<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/article\/69856\/1\/alice-mann-the-night-is-young-prom-matric-ball-south-africa-photo-book&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1200\/0-0-2048-1365\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1440\/0\/1440987.jpg&#8221;] All images courtesy of the artist \/ IDEA March\u00a0 9,\u00a0 2026 Art &amp; Photography \/ The Spring 2026 Issue Art &amp; Photography \/ The Spring 2026 Issue Alice Mann\u2019s photos depict the glamour of South Africa\u2019s prom nights The Night Is Young chronicles the rite of passage of matric balls, when school [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,76],"class_list":["post-1815656","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-dazeddigital-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1815656","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1815656"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1815656\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1815656"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1815656"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1815656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}