What I Would do if I Could Change Public Dancing

We've all been there.

That awkward school dance. That bar or club. That "fun" dancing event.

You enter a room and are suddenly surrounded by crowds of people (who may or may not be drunk). You stand there for a moment, overwhelmed in shock. Am I supposed to do that too, you wonder? What is this awkward bobbing motion with waving arms? Why is everyone just... jumping? Oh, wait, there's that one awkward couple there just sort of swaying together. Oh, and a couple of friends holding hands. Oh, and that guy... air grinding someone. Maybe I can just awkwardly bob my head in this corner...

Yeah, you've probably realized by now that dancing is not really my thing, but can you blame me? The dancing we now do is... well, boring.

Tonight, I had an epiphany when I went square dancing in a church.

Yes, you may think this sounds lame, but hear me out. In the past, dancing was always such a social thing. The music wasn't so loud that you couldn't hear the person next to you. My grandparents met at a dance, in fact. Or else, think of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth in (the good version of) Pride and Prejudice! Dancing was a huge part of life because it was so different back then. Dancing was a chance to meet people and to have fun!

Group dancing is wonderful. Live music makes everything feel so much more special. You meet new people and bond quickly as you struggle through the steps that the caller is trying to get you to do. You get new partners and dance with dozens of people, all with smiles on their faces. It's exercise, it requires a little bit of thought, and the best part is that no one is judging you because everyone is just there to have fun.

Why don't we dance like that anymore? Why is dancing so individualistic or just plain sexual now? Why has dancing moved from something that is just fun and social into something that is unvaried and lonely?

I wish that group dancing was still something that we all did. I would love to change our whole society's view on dancing and get us back into that sort of a lifestyle. I've always hated dancing, and even I enjoy this dancing.

So, I encourage all of you... give it a try!

-Laura