Through the decades, the popular way to dance at parties or on a date has evolved and changed with the times. While the roaring '20s will be known for the Charleston and the '50s for the Twist, do we really want to be known for grinding?
Let's all remember our first school dance (horrible awkward flashbacks, I know). You probably knew what grinding was, but were freaking out because you had never done it before, and you think you're a horrible dancer,or you're too cool to dance. Then you get there and realize that all you have to is either sway awkwardly and jump up and down with a group of people, or just rub yourself against someone in time to music to be able to say that you're dancing.
I'm not saying we need to ban grinding or shut down high school dances because of it, but there is something to be said about how dancing has changed over the years and what we think of as romantic. So, not everyone can dance like Baby and Johnny in "Dirty Dancing," but what happened to putting together a real dance, where you rely on a partner and can express yourself and move together through dance moves other than standing in one place and moving your hips back and forth. Let's have some originality here.
I'm aware that in the settings where people are typically grinding (clubs, dances, parties) they aren't necessarily looking for romance, just a fun night out. But, if the Reverend from "Footloose" was worried about dancing in the '80s, he would have had a heart attack seeing what is considered normal dancing today. But, as much as I hate to say this, he sort of had a point in saying that dancing led to sin (sex). And I'm pretty sure that even though they overturned the dancing law by proving that dancing isn't a sin, Ren and Ariel probably ended up hooking up anyway.
What made those dances so romantic and appealing was their allure (and the way Hollywood portrays them with attractive leads). It was a different time where being too provocative wasn't socially acceptable, meaning they left something to the imagination of the dance partner. Obviously things are different today, and people put it all out on the dance floor. Aside from the romance of it, the dances in "Footloose" and "Dirty Dancing" just seem like so much more fun! I mean, we have line dances (who else got pumped if the DJ played the "Cupid Shuffle"?), and even those don't come close to the energy I wish more people had about real dancing. But, we can't deny that grinding is what's popular, so I guess we'll just have to wait and see what the next big dance will be.
