Dirty Dancing - Take Two

Do people dance at dances anymore? I mean, I know people are out there on the dance floor...moving - somewhat scantily, but are they dancing? And if their inappropriate motions qualify as dancing...is this really what our youth has resorted to? I do not exclude young adults from this phenomenon either.

I promise I am no prissy-pants wallflower when it comes to dancing. I love busting a move when I get the chance, but when I am dancing I express joy and spontaneity. From what I have heard, and witnessed, this new style of dancing is trashy and highly sensuous. Sure there are times and places to let your hair down and have a little mischievous fun, but that time and place is not typically at a school dance. I apologize if I am sounding too school for cool, but this trend should stop for the sake of our youngsters.

My two siblings, both of which are in high school, attended their homecoming dance last weekend. Being my sister's first high school dance, she had been eagerly anticipating a night of good, clean fun. She was quickly disappointed by the raunchy behavior the majority of her peers had participated in, and she left the dance with a shocked daze on her face.

Even her clean-cut friends had succumb to that style of dancing. She was shocked when they were flattered, instead of feeling the same way she had, when approached by boys wanting to dance in that manner.

I partially blame the music we are given to dance to. Rap and Hip-Hop, the genres most played at school dances, have extremely suggestive and blunt lyrics. While people claim they just like the beat, which is catchy and fun to dance to, the words are impossible to ignore. Music is subliminally influential, clearly. Look what it makes us dance like!

Let's challenge what has become the norm. Sure it is tempting, because "everyone" is doing it, but who made "everyone" king?  That type of dancing is not truly fun or enjoyable. Of course mischief will always be around, but it should never be accepted as the norm. Which reminds me...where are the chaperones at these shin-digs? How can we expect our youth to shape-up if there are no adults enforcing what is right and setting standards?

I really just want everyone to have fun...real fun. It is a shame to think that an entire generation can be robbed of true enjoyment. I want our youth to feel the freedom to express themselves and be individuals. Look how much fun they had in the movie Grease at their school dance! Okay, that reference may be a little rusty, but at least they were actually dancing. It is time to start having fun again, and create memories that will be enjoyable to look back on - instead of embarrassing. So go ahead - dance and be merry!