HS homecoming dance...what gear?

[Back288]

Sorry for the newb-ish question, but I've never shot at an event like this before so any advice from someone experienced would be greatly appreciated. I'm not overly experienced with flash photography either, but am learning on the job so to speak. I've started doing freelance work for the local newspaper, and they've given me the assignment to shoot at a high-school homecoming dance tomorrow night. It starts well after sunset and is all indoors in the school's "cafetorium" which, I've been told by the photo editor, has pretty high ceilings that make bounce flash pretty much impossible.

I'll be shooting with my 40D, and I have a flash bracket and 430EX flash as well. I'd like to travel fairly light (preferably just one or two lenses) and was just looking for imput as to which would be wise to bring. I've pretty much narrowed gear list down to the following (all Canon), but could use a bit more help:

10-22mm f3.5-4.5
24-105L f4 IS
85mm f1.8
28-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS
70-200mm f2.8L IS (the paper's editor recommended just bringing this one)

Also would a monopod come in handy or just get in the way shooting at a dance?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

[Moppie]

Are you shooting posed portraits, or just generally covering the event?

Nowing what sort of shots you need, can help a lot in determining what you need to get them.