In recent years, I’ve discovered that the motions found at dances like Homecoming are strikingly similar to those of uncooked pasta. Everything seems forced, from the smiles to the shimmies.
I’ve often wondered why dances are so awkward. After all, everybody’s done a respectable dance set in their shower at one point or another, right? Finally, after meditating beside a blossoming avocado tree, I was enlightened with an answer.
Ironically, organized dances are not conducive to dancing because there is an underlying expectation for you to dance.
For clarity, imagine you happen to be goofing around with your friends and do something spontaneously funny that makes everybody laugh. Suddenly, one of your friends whips out a phone, opens Snapchat and with a giggle says, “Wait, do that again,” as they anxiously await to upload this comedic genius to their story.
Suddenly, the situation is no longer funny or enjoyable. It’s just awkward, and so is any attempt at recreating whatever you just did. Likewise, because dances expect you to consciously do what would otherwise be unconsciously done, the fun is removed.
The results of this phenomenon are brutally obvious at Homecoming. Namely, we start falling into these mindless, god-forsaken pre-choreographed dances that are specific to each song.
As you could probably tell by my wearing of flannel in the summer, I’m not a huge fan of mainstream music. So, no. I do not know how to wobble. I do not know how to “JuJu on That Beat.” In all honesty, I wish someone would actually “Teach Me How To Dougie,” because maybe then I would finally be able to join you all in your spontaneous synchronized choreography that could have come straight out of a Bollywood film.
You may be wondering, “Well, what’s the solution?” I believe that a change in our mentalities could alter this reality for the better. While it’s true that the general ambience of dances seems to pressure students to dance extraordinarily well in front of their peers, it’s important to realize something.
None of us are actually good at dancing. In fact, most of us are quite bad.
The sooner we come to grips with this hard-hitting truth, the easier and more carefree dances will be. From personal experience, I can say with utmost confidence that people will respect you significantly more if you’re the only one on the dance floor dancing your heart out to Nicki Minaj’s “Super Bass” than if you’re just one of 20 mindlessly doing the “Wobble.”
A carefree dancer is like a leaf fluttering in the wind. Simple. Pure. Wholesome. Be free, my friends. Be free.
