Rebel Opinion: SC Independent bashes SKHS dance
November 27, 2009 · written by Hennessy Shaw
Friday November 20, the night of SHKS’ homecoming, was by far one of the most interesting dances so far. With salsa dancing in the auditorium, ping pong matches in the small gym and board games in the lobby, the possibilities for fun were endless.
Wednesday, the South County Independent produced a front page story on South Kingstown High School’s “provocative [homecoming] dance.” However, the author Mark Schieldrop failed to provide readers with both sides of the story. What I mean by both sides of the story is the author failed to quote students who stand up for the way they dance. Instead, Schieldrop quotes only one student who, of course, does not grind.
For those of you who may not know, a Dance Committee was formed recently to slowly prevent grinding as well as helping more students to attend the dances. If this committee is planning to overthrow our right to dance how we please, it will not go down well. It would be nice however, if the committee did consider how they danced during high school. Wasn’t their dancing considered lewd and provocative as well?
The way we dance may not be the best way of self expression, yet we should have the freedom to grind if we choose. If grinding was such a big problem, an administrator would act either by turning the lights on and making an announcement or breaking each couple up that is seen grinding. Did that happen? No. Why not? Because grinding is not as horrific as it is one-sidedly portrayed in the paper.
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Miss Shaw,
Have you given any thought to experiencing a DJ who plays real ACTUAL music? Rap/Hip Hop is entertaining to say the least, but lacks (in my opinion) musical integrity. If said DJ would play tunes from groups and artists who produce songs with a tonal background, “grinding” would be less welcome. Take a look at classic artists who had previous generations on the floor dancing: Earth Wind and Fire, The Eagles, Michael Jackson, Elvis Costello, Paul Simon, The Police, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and my personal favorite- Stevie Wonder. These are all influential musicians who give dancing a real meaning. Grinding is perfect for teenage boys and girls who’s individual hormones are soaring, and where better to let those hormones fly then in a dark, hot, high school gymnasium. But girls really don’t need to be objectified at a school dance, the halls of SK are bad enough already. The girl is literally (and correct me if I am wrong, though I did go to SKHS and have been through the grinding stage myself) bending over and rubbing her backside up and down, around and around the boys’ crotch until the song is over, or until one of them realizes one is a bad dancer. Your reference to previous generations having “lewd” dancing styles as well is a good try, but far out of place. Sure, the rock and roll dances were frowned upon by our grandparents, but never was there as sexual a dance as our grinding. Coming from a graduate who got over the grinding stage early along with most of my graduating class, I promise you that you will have just as much fun, if not more if you dance like a human being, and not a sexual deviant. In all, get some real music in that Gym, because if you can only “dance” by grinding, good luck during your wedding reception, I don’t know if you want your first dance to be as provocative as your honeymoon may be.
And Blessing, how many dancing articles can you publish in a 5 year span? I think you might be approaching the world record.
Cheers!
-Blessing Fan 09
Well “Blessing Fan 09″ this is not the opinion of Mr. Blessing nor the journalism class, this is the opinion of just myself. I will however say that yes they should play more of a variety of music yet this is what majority of the students request and would prefer to listen to. If you look over the request sheets they are filled with half the songs they play at the dance. Furthermore you can grind to any song. If the DJ decided to play Country music all night there would be a good sum of students dancing as they please to that song. The music does not cause grinding, its just a popular way of dance expression. You even see grinders during slow songs, so playing “Get Low” by Lil’ John is not whats causing the “problem” if you do wish for your style of music to be played, request it.
I think that both sides of the arguement are in the right here. In some cases, it is the music. In others, not so much. But whether the music is to blame for the grinding or not, I find it more of a problem that many of the SK students find it ok. They should know that when they participate in something such as grinding, it looks slutty and even though SK has a no cell phone rule, who’s to say someone couldn’t sneak one in and take a picture?? Something like grinding is personal choice, but us teens have to realize it’s a bad one.
I think that this bumping and grinding stuff is wrong. I don’t go to the dances anymore because I don’t want to embarass myself and make a big idiotic choice and get teased about it. I would rather just dance normally with a girl rather than feel her in front of everyone. I don’t want to watch people basically having “sex” on the dance floor. If it was up to me, I would definatly have this grinding stuff banned. NO ONE NEEDS TO DO THIS TO HAVE A GOOD TIME AT THE DANCE. DANCE NORMALLY!!!!
I would also be embarassed now that the South County Independent had put an article in the paper about this. Other papers are going to start that. I like what Blessing Fan 09 said. And I agree. What will you do later in life at a party or even your wedding if all you can do is grind? What about a work party? Time to learn some new dance steps! As for me, I am going to continue to respect my school.
People are stupid enough to grind to “Shook me All Night Long” from AC/DC or “Don’t Stop Believing” from Journey. I don’t think it’s the music so much as the people.
Well enright it is what it is. you cant change people and if grinding bothers you dont go to dances! yes its banned now but dont mean it will come to a complete halt. each generation has their own form of dancing in high school and the previous generations always find it far more vulgar than theirs.
i refuse to attend dances anymore. the problem is that these girls “grind” to get attention from guys. dances are as synonymous with high school as chair is to table. it’s inevitable that SOMEONE will grind there. frankly, it’s disgusting to watch.
if i say anything at all about not attending a dance, it’s a flamefest with my peers. it’s only $7-10 i’m not contributing to my class! my money is better spent else where, rather then watching 14 year olds grind. it needs to end.
i agree with blessing fan 09, also. an experiment: put on some country music, see if they grind to that….(which they will, teenage hormones=through the roof)
I totally understand the reason why they ban it in our school, but whats to stop people from renting out a different venue and selling their own tickets at a higher price to provide income for themselves, and even possibly on the same night as a high school dance!
kids need to understand that parents dont enjoy watching, and thats why the number of chapperones has gone down and that is why they have banned it. I am not stating a side here, im just providing feedback.
Kids refer to what they see on TV a lot. Dancing to Hip-Hop music is a large source of what is portrait in Music Videos. notice that grinding basically started when Music Videos on MTV started showing grinding.
I have my opinion, and i prefer not to voice it. but like i said, if kids dont like the fact that they are no longer alowed to grind at dances, maybe they can just host their own, and make some money by themselves while the school, and what ever classes attempt to host dances, continue loosing money on booking DJ’s and the fees that come with that.
the class officers and I of the class or 2011, attempted to host “pulse” with just negitive results. Only 16 Tickets sold, and a loss of money to our class on booking the DJ. now whats that going to mean when some kid decides, hey, maybe i can just host my own dance? they could be taking in the extra few hundred dollars that the Schools is missing out on from the banned “freak” dancing.