“What do we have, Chuck?” says Blair. “Tonight. So shut up and dance with me,” Chuck replies. The winter ball episode of Gossip Girl contained one of the sweetest and most lovely scenes in the entire series between Blair Waldorf and Chuck Bass. The dancing was classy, the dresses elaborate, and the feelings created were incomparable.
Classy, structured dancing is one thing that many public high school students often miss. They aren’t taught in school, and most parents don’t typically feel the need to educate their children in proper dancing. School dances have more of a raving, club-type atmosphere filled with grinding to dubstep and low-bassline music. High society events (not that we see many in this area) include waltzing and qaudrille-esque dancing with piano accompaniment.
These traditions are age-old, whereas the newer club-style dancing was born in the 70s. The death of the Charleston and Waltz ages began with the new music styles of the 60s and 70s and the gaining popularity of the night world of clubbing. This is a shame considering that the waltz and more cultured dancing is quite beautiful and classy.
The look and general idea surrounding the stereotypical high school dance is that it’s a bunch of hormone-captivated teens showing up late and drunk for a dance party, only to leave early and go and party after. Maybe that’s just what my parents think, but it isn’t a wholly exaggerated perception.
A winter ball event would be good for the school’s image and perception in the community. Yes, it seems ridiculous for most teenagers to bother with learning dances done in Cotillion that have been dredged up from Victorian London society. However, it’s worthwhile.
Having a ball would pretty much guarantee the approval of most girls. We grow up dreaming of fairytales where the princess wears big dresses and glass slippers, and she spends her evening dancing beautifully with the prince to some stereotypical Disney piano ballad.
A strong majority of us don’t ever get that experience because of the lack of classical dancing in modern society. Not to say that I don’t totally enjoy prom, which is also (for lack of better terminology) a grind-fest.
Prom has the elaborate dress aspect covered, but a girl spends so much of hers, and sometimes her parent’s money on these dresses that she wears it (most likely) only once. And what does she do with her $100+ dress on that one night? They fist pump in one giant mosh pit of sweaty people.
Overall, I’m a believer in having one classy dance a year, one that isn’t wasted on gross music and behavior. If the dancing ability of students is an issue, it’d be a fun idea to have a class of sorts available during activity periods a month before the dance for students who wish to attend.
By no means am I criticizing our current system for dances. I’m just suggesting a potentially popular idea that would be fun and classy, which would also give the school a good reputation.
