Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while know that I work at a high school. And you also know that I love what I do. You would too if you got to work with such fun and creative students like these in the video I am posting today.
We have our winter formal dance coming up this week and our administration is strongly encouraging students to pick a different form of dancing than “freaking”. I give them a lot of credit for even addressing this issue because the reality is 90% of the students freak dance. It’s an uphill battle and not a particularly well-liked stance. When I was a student, freaking was called “bumping and grinding” or B and G. I think the new title is less uncomfortable to say, but let me tell you, the dancing style has evolved into something that should not be part of a teenagers dance card. Yikes!
Other than wanting you to see this hilarious video (I know I am biased) the main reason I am writing about this ties back to my mentoring post last week. Teens need positive influences. Teens need adults in their life that will remind them that it’s okay to go against the crowd even when it does not seem cool. When my students ask my opinion of freaking I tell them I don’t like it. I think it’s much, much more fun to dance like an idiot (think sprinkler, shopping cart and fisherman) than dance so close to someone that you can’t tell where they stop and you start. I tell them they will have plenty of time to dance like an adult, when they are an adult. For now, dance like a kid.
Stepping off the soapbox. And on to the dance floor!
Enjoy the video. (I suggest you let it load, and then watch it)