church dance must be code for something sinister. Because in footloose the church says no to the evil dancey temptressThe church dance thing should be a no-go zone, mostly they are bad news.
For example the hoodoogurus took her to the dance and then didn't see her all night. She was with some other boy, just outside.
Another example is the dance where Judy left with Johnny, holding her hand, and he was supposed to be mine. Later in the evening they walked through the door, and Judy was wearing his ring.