Dirty Dancing Not For Everyone

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Sunday, 25 January 2009 14:50

By FLOREE WILLIAMS

There I was in the club, sipping on a drink and lightly swaying to the music. And then, with the change of a record, I felt I'd been transported into the twilight zone. The "dances" I saw before left me wondering, "What the heck is going on?"
I remember when the dance move craze started. I smile when I remember "logging on," "signaling de plane" and doing the "shelly belly". Some time after, the infamous "dutty wine" surfaced, and that was mid level vulgarity, depending on the dancer's intensity.
Right on the heels of the dutty wine came the "hot wuk". Now this one I flat out refused to do when I realised what the actions were insinuating. Somewhere after this, I must've closed my eyes and fallen asleep, and on this night, in this club, I woke up and gasped.

Just imagine, there's a song requesting you to "pat your *insert name of female private part* and call your man's name." To watch the corresponding action is quite appalling, to tell the truth, as some actions should be reserved for behind closed doors.

As the dancehall segment of the DJ's flow continued, so did the "quinting," "tick tocking" and "daggering". Hands reached the floor, spandex dresses inched higher and higher, legs spread and yes I even
saw some backs hit the floor.

I looked on and shook my head. I remember back in the day when bending over a little too far was considered "getting on bad". Can these current moves, inspired by these very explicit sexual lyrics, be considered dancing? Is simulated sex and practicing gymnastic floor moves the in thing?

It used to be fun watching the whole dance floor jump from the river to the bank, or seeing everyone's hands thunda clapping to the sky.
Now, a few years later, I instead find myself frequently stopping, widening my eyes and scratching my head. Is this dancing?

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