By Elena Saavedra Buckley
Staff writer

Past generations rocked the twist, the mashed potato and disco at school dances, but 21st century teenagers’ dance moves are ones that will not be seen on many school dance floors.

Grinding, a popular way of dancing for high schoolers, has been banned from Prep’s school dances, starting with last month’s Winter Ball.

            “In the past, we have given (students) the opportunity to express yourselves the way you want to, but beginning with Winter Ball, we will not allow students to grind,” grade coordinator Willie Owens announced at a freshman-sophomore morning assembly.  

             Grinding, a style of dance that has become popular with teenagers in the last decade, has been banned at many schools in Albuquerque, including Bosque, Albuquerque Academy and most public schools. To perform the dance, a girl stands in front of her partner, who is facing the same way as her, and the two dance closely and in a suggestive manner.

            Head of School Steve Albert said the administration finally came to a point where it had to make a decision to prepare for the Tri-School Dance this month.

            “The thing that made the conversation more focused is probably the fact that we’re hosting the Tri-School dance,” he said. “We just got to talking more and more about the fact that (allowing grinding) didn’t really reflect our institution and who we are as a school.”

            Students have reacted to the ban in different ways, ranging from indifference to anger.

            “I’m upset because no one at our school knows how to dance. This is our generation, and this is how we dance,” said junior Dixie Cooper. “Although it probably makes people uncomfortable, they don’t have to do it and they don’t have to come watch it. You don’t have to censor everything.”

            Paula Mason, a freshman, isn’t as attached to the dance form.

            “I don’t like it because it’s awkward,” she said. “It’s inappropriate, but not wildly. I’m not going to be one of those people that says, ‘no grinding,’ but yeah, it’s inappropriate.”

            One of the common arguments against the dance style is that it objectifies women. This is history teacher Thomas Gentry-Funk’s foremost issue with grinding.

            “If the woman is not looking at the man when they’re dancing, and she’s looking away and being forced to look away because of that dance, does she have the right to say ‘no, this is making me uncomfortable,’ or does she even have the opportunity to say that?” said Gentry-Funk. “The woman appears to me to not have any power in that relationship.”

            Cooper disagreed.

            “I think that it’s a woman’s choice to do it or not, and if she does it than it’s not objectifying her. Half the time, boys can’t even dance, and the girls just do everything,” she said.

            Math teacher and student government sponsor Scott Jeffries said he is on the fence about whether grinding should be banned, but he said he worries about the students who feel too uncomfortable to say “no” when put in the situation to grind.

            “The issue comes in with the fact that you have to consider what the person beside you is thinking,” Jeffries said. “It’s entirely possible that you’ll have a little ninth grader showing up at the dance for the first time... I would hate for the little ninth grader to not have enough guts to turn around and say no.”

            Many students reacted to the ban with the opinion that it takes away their freedom of expression.

            “There are many ways to express yourself on the dance floor,” said Gentry-Funk. “Couldn’t you also make the argument that you could take your clothes off on the dance floor because it’s your freedom of expression? We know that there are rules of behavior that are considered socially accepted, and frankly, there are lots of ways to express yourself, not just one dance,” he said.

            Albert says he understands the opinions of students, but urges them to think of school dances like other school events.

             “In the same way that we have guidelines about dress and appearance and use of language, I think that dance is in the same category,” he said. “Going to a school dance is not the same as going to a club or going to a party at someone’s house, and that you have to handle yourself a little differently.”

            The ban has also prompted many high schoolers to say they will not go to the dances. 

             Jeffries believes there will be a significant drop in attendance.

            “I think it’s going to take a huge toll on admissions,” he said. When asked how he felt about the possible parties that would be thrown in lieu of the dance, he said it depends on the party.

            “If it’s a parent-supervised party like it should be, that’s awesome. If it’s a full-on, free-for-all, then that’s bad,” he said.

            To counter the lack of a popular dance form, an activity will be offered that teaches students dance styles such as line dancing and the cha-cha.

Cooper doesn’t see the appeal in activities like this. “Nobody enjoys salsa-ing,” she said.

            While students can make the decision whether or not to attend, during Winter Ball, they will have to leave their grinding chops at home.