For the first time ever, students from Cabot. Currier and North Houses will strut their stuff together at a Quad-wide winter formal, house committee members said yesterday.

The event, which was officially approved on Friday, will be held on December 10 at the Wang Center in Boston. This is the first time Quad students have come together for a combined winter formal, house officials said.

House committee members said a key reason behind the joint event was the expectation that they will save money. The houses agreed to split costs evenly.

"Besides the fact that we wanted to have Quad-bonding, splitting the cost is more economically sound," said Charmaine T.M. Chiu '96, social chair for Cabot House.

Tickets will cost $15, the same price charged at last year's North and Currier House formals. Cabot residents will have to spend three dollars more than last year.

But some students said the location and the company are worth the price hike.

"I don't usually go to winter formals," said Nelangi N. Pintl '96, a Cabot House resident. "But now I'm considering it."

House committee officers said they felt more comfortable combining the winter formals than other dances.

"None of us have big winter formals, so a change is less of a risk," said Tanya E. Ponton '95, co-chair of the Cabot House committee.

Dana W. Lansky '95, co-chair of Cabot House committee, said the dance would foster a sense of community and "hopefully, will become a tradition."

"Everyone is really excited," Lansky added.

North House committee members decided the issue by mail-dropping ballots to residents to ask their opinions. Committee members in that house could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Cabot and Currier House residents approved the dance at open house committee meetings.

Nagging Details

While the houses are pledged to cooperation, some difficult details, such as reconciling various alcohol and smoking policies, have yet to be resolved.