CONCORD, N.H. -- Student dances are in jeopardy in one New Hampshire school because of a dancing style that administrators say mimics a sexual act.
Principal Gene Connolly said Concord High School has canceled all school dances and postponed homecoming after students failed to dance according to school policy at the first dance of the year, which was last weekend.
Students said the adults are just making a big fuss and that they just want to have fun, but administrators said it's serious business and the children need to comply with school rules.
"I think we should be able to dance how we want. We're in high school now -- not like we're going to do anything bad," freshman Jack Parlier said.
Saturday night, about 350 students attended the year's first school dance. The music had barely begun before the chaperones asked about a dozen students to leave for dancing inappropriately. About 150 of the 350 students at the dance left with them.
At issue is a style of dancing known as "grinding" where there is one person in the front, usually a girl, and one person in the back, usually a boy. They gyrate against one another. Students said it's just how they dance these days, but administrators said that it is too overtly sexual for a school function.
But some students and parents say the grinding is a sign of the times, like the jitterbug and disco once were.
The Concord High School dance policy states, "Acceptable behavior must be demonstrated by all students in attendance. All dance styles must comply with standards of modesty and safety. Dance partners must face each other."
Dr. Christine Rath, the Concord School Superintendent, said that a big piece of the district's education is learning to respect community boundaries.
"I don't think it's a big deal, no harm," senior student Cassie Thomas said. "(We're) not going any further than just dancing."
Principal Connolly told parents this week that they would be offended if they saw the dancing.
The school met with students and parents Tuesday to try to come up with a compromise, which hasn't yet happened.
Connolly said if they reach a compromise, the school would reschedule homecoming.
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