Evolution of the Dragon

Monday, April 04, 2005

Freak Dancing: Socially Acceptable Leisure Activity or Rhumba of the Rebellious Teenager

I realize this has nothing to do with tattooing, but it came up in conversation during the first tattoo session. A discussion about whether it was appropriate for "freak dancing" to occur at school sanctioned dances.

"What the hell is 'freak dancing?!?'" you ask. How should I know! I just picture freaky dancing, whatever that may be.

So, I decided to turn to my trusty educational database (which I'm suppose to be using to search for dissertation articles) to find out if there is truly an increased risk of sexual behaviors as a result of "freak dancing." Ultimately, I came up empty. There was no research that I was able to find supporting either side. I did find this article. Far off topic, but it is about crazy Dutch adolescents dancing to "House" music and using ecstasy. The only reason I present this article for everyone's knowledge is that it has a positive outcome. The ultimate conclusion was that "experimenting" as an adolescent can lead to short-term negative effects, but in the long-term it contributes to social adjustment, well-being, and positive identity development. I would go out on a limb to say that tattooing would probably fall under the category of "experimenting." Continue to encourage kids to experiment with "freak dancing!" Leave a comment of what you think about the topic of "freak dancing." Should it be allowed in our educational system corrupting the nation's youth?

Again, you'll need Adobe Reader to view the article.

posted by jim @ 5:57 PM

5 Comments:

Everyone remembers when the first Dirty Dancing came out, back in the days when Patrick Swayze had a careerand was still pretty fine. My girlfriends and I rushed out to practice the moves on unsuspecting boys at our local pool during the summer.(As far as I know, only 2 of us had kids before the age of 18!) I still remember having some poor kid lift me into the air over his head so I could be like Jennifer Grey. I dare say that maybe "freak dancing" is a part of every generations development in some way. So carry on..I say!!
Anonymous Anonymous, at Monday, April 04, 2005 9:27:00 PM  
Here, here, sayeth I. The controversy is still brewing at school, so, Jim, maybe you can be of some clinical assistance at my next faculty meeting. It's a long-winded and sordid affair, and there are teachers strewn along all points of the reactionary spectrum: from "This is the end of civilization" to "Who the fuck cares?" I'm not quite at the latter end, but I'm pretty close. The short of it is: if we begin to censor students' expression in dance, where does it end? Writing? Art? Music? Alas, now my liberal leanings are apparent! Am I supposed to say something about tattooing you? Folks at home, there's not much to say. Jim is the easy-goin-est client around. He don't complain, he don't say nuthin'. The back is not an easy spot to get tattooed, so I admire his cojones for the undertaking. Did you know that Sue once said "kahunas" when she meant to say "cojones"? Don't you just love her?
Anonymous Anonymous, at Thursday, April 07, 2005 4:27:00 PM  
Yeah... I'm still not sure I quite know the difference between "kahunas" and "cojones." It's all Greek to me. Hmmm... perhaps therein lies the problem.
Anonymous Anonymous, at Thursday, April 07, 2005 4:45:00 PM  
Now that you mentioned it, I'm not sure if I know what the difference is. Must be a "Latin" thing.
Anonymous Anonymous, at Thursday, April 07, 2005 6:02:00 PM  
Back in Jr. High school everyone was "freak dancing." The Humpty Dance by Digital Underground is still one of the best songs for "freak dancing.” Of course, even back in those days the teachers did not appreciate my smooth moves. But hey, I turned out ok . . . I think?
Anonymous Anonymous, at Saturday, April 09, 2005 3:34:00 PM  

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