Age-a-licious

Dip It Low? I Don't Think So, Says One High School Principal
From MTV.com

For students at one California high school, there will be no more dropping it like it's hot, no more leaning back and definitely no more dipping it low.

That's because their principal has canceled the rest of the school year's dances, citing his concern over what he describes as an increase in "freak dancing" — students grinding their hips and pelvic areas against one another.

Principal Jim Bennett of Lemoore Union High School in Lemoore, California, is the man behind the "Footloose"-esque plan, which he implemented after warning students at a winter formal dance last month to lay off the suggestive dancing. When students kept grinding, Bennett pulled the plug on all future dances, including next month's Sadie Hawkins dance, which is a fund-raiser for the school's Future Farmers of America club, and the junior and senior proms in the spring.

"I've never really paid attention to the way students were dancing, but somewhere along the line, this dance style crept in from wherever. At first, two or three kids tried it out, and we stopped them. But now they outnumber us," Bennett said. "I call it vertical lap-dancing. But some of it isn't so vertical; I had one young lady on all fours grinding into the crotch of her date, right in front of me. We can't have students dancing like that in a public place. So that's what drove the decision."

Bennett did say that all dances could be rescheduled if the students agree to give up the dirty dancing.

"There will be no more dances at Lemoore until the student sponsors of the dances abide by two conditions: Number one, no freak dancing, and number two, the administrators don't have to assure number one," Bennett said. "Whether or not that will work, we'll have to see."

This isn't the first time a high school principal has canceled dances due to student behavior. In 2003 Ray Murray, principal of Nevada High School in Nevada, Iowa, canceled his school's homecoming dance following a week of pranks by the students. Several teachers' homes were toilet-papered, a washing machine and dishwasher were left on school property, and the windshield on Murray's van was smashed.

Parents objected to Murray's decision and rented out an off-campus building for students to have their homecoming dance.

"If parents would like to take over dances and rent a hall somewhere, they can do whatever they want," Bennett said. "This isn't part of my educational mission; I didn't go to college for this."

Bennett said he thinks a compromise will be reached and that the dances will go on as planned. And he wants people to know that he's not anti-music or anti-dance.

"My wife and I love to go out dancing. I like any type of country music that's danceable," he said. "But I don't really listen to the radio. And the DJs at these dances are playing songs with the F word in it or describing sexual activity. There's plenty of other songs out there."

— James Montgomery

TheAngel

That really sucks. They were talking about doing something like that to our senior prom because of some student action at senior dinner dance. I can understand him getting onto the girl grinding on the floor, but other than that, it's just dancing, they have their clothes on, and they're just having fun. But whatever, his choice and I'm certain he's going to get some flack over this.

Jerry D

Man, that's ridiculous. They need to send Kevin Bacon to that school!

mh67511

At my junior high they threatened the same thing. I didn't really care because the dances sucked anwyays. Actually my school was dumb; the dances were during the day and you HAD to go or else you had to do extra assignments unless you were Muslim! You couldn't just not go...you HAD to or else face consequences. Oh and then the teachers got mad if you didnt' dance!

*Lauren

Personally, I agree with the princiapl. That stuff is NOT appropriate at high schools. I dirty dance with my friends all the time, but I'm 21. 15, 16, 17 year olds should not be dancing like that, and especilly not on school grounds. If they want to do it at their own parties, that's their parents choice, but the school has the right to say no.

Age-a-licious

I hope they settle this matter a.s.a.p 'cause that really sucks for a lot of people who don't do that sort of dancing and wanted to go to their prom this year.

alli balli

I'm a senior in high school, and they always tell us in assemblies before formal dances that we have to dress and dance "appropriately," but nothing is actually done about it. IMO there's nothing wrong with grinding...it's just dancing. Actually, isn't it better that they be doing it at school with clothes on, rather than at home with clothes off?

In Fair Verona

The principal needs to define "freak dancing" a little better than just grinding and pelvic thrusts. Let's face it, a lot of dancing involves pelvic thrusts, it doesn't mean people are going to start doing it on the floor. I think it is up an individual to determine themselves what is crossing the line. This principal, whom I understand is doing his job, definetly is not quite in touch with the modern world of music.

It's a sad fact, but his definition of "freak dancing" is widely accepted today and not many people find it offensive anymore.

I get disgusted sometimes when it goes overboard too, but it's like those magazine ads sometimes - be sexy, it doesn't mean you have to have sex. Those dance moves are sexy. At times outrageous, but in general sexy.

What makes me upset is probably just all the other students who don't do it who are affected by it. That's not fair.

*Lauren

When you're grinding your crotch into someone elses, its foreplay.

Lovesbitch

I have to disagree, if you are clothed and grinding I don't see that as 'foreplay' It's dancing.

I remember going to dances in high school and we would all 'freak' dance. Everyone did, none of the teachers really seemed to care that much unless it was extreme. Girl down on all fours....that's a little extreme and I can understand a teacher breaking that up.

WinterPolaris

"Freak dancing" is, and always has been since I was a freshman, a problem at my high school as well. Our principal has always been trying to do something about it, but never went quite as far as cancelling all dances.

As for the prank thing, my senior class got into trouble, too, because a couple of idiots broke some windows at school. Our principal was close to cancelling homecoming dance, but didn't, mainly because student government has spent 4 months preparing and fundraising for it.

Mandy Renay

We never had any kind of problem like that. Our dances were lame, and everyone (the very few people that showed up.. I only ever did once) just stood around. There wasn't even a lot of dancing at prom.

In Fair Verona

At my school we don't even get a homecoming dance (which was quite a shocker to me after asking a guy to it in freshman year...). There is senior prom and for everybody else end of the banquets for each elective such as football, choir, theatre, band, etc...

I think that "freak dancing" and grinding your crotch into somebody is only foreplay if the people involved get turned on. That might seem like a stupid question but there are people who dance because it's an art or just because it's fun. People do racy things just to be provocative or artistic, not to get turned on. But if you're humping each other with the intent of getting turned on, not having fun dancing, then sure, it's foreplay.

Lovesbitch

Yep, but I think most people who 'grind' aren't getting turned on as you do.

Honestly, I never really found grinding to be all that sexy. It was just dancing and fun.

sum1

That's focking crazy.