Dancing Queen

Dancing Queen

Most everyone has been to at least one school dance in their lifetime, but junior high dances are a breed of their own. In high school, everybody is pretty much the same size and close to the same emotional maturity. In junior high, there is a huge difference in the physical and social maturity of the seventh graders and ninth graders: some seventh graders in our school look more like third graders compared to the kids in ninth grade. Figuring out what to wear is one of the biggest challenges junior high kids face, especially girls. In addition, the social ramifications of a junior high dance can change your public landscape- sometimes permanently. Recently, there was a dance at our school, Fairfield Jr. High, which demonstrated this strange world.

We have a tradition at our school dances where all the girls throw in one of their shoes to the middle of the cafeteria. Then the boys rush in, and hoping to get the shoe belonging to the girl of their choice, grab one; then the two dance. At our school dance a couple of weeks ago, I participated in this ritual. I spent the first half of the song finding the boy who had snatched up my shoe, but success was eventually mine. When I saw who was to be my partner, I was astonished. A tiny seventh grader whose head barely reached my shoulder had actually taken a chance and grabbed a shoe. It was an awkward dance because I, a ninth grader, had to teach a little boy how to dance. “You put one hand here, and the other hear,” I instructed. I indulged him because he had been brave enough to take a shoe, but I find that dancing with kids your own age is a tad bit more enjoyable. But before I even got to the dance, I was faced with the most difficult decision of what to wear.

When you look around on dance days at all the different outfits people are wearing, you can tell a lot. Many people don’t even attend dances, and some people get all totally decked out. I happen to be one of the girls who goes to the extremes. I probably spend more time picking out a cute outfit for the dance than the dance actually lasts. “Mom! I don’t know what to wear,” I say this every time a dance comes up. Shirts, skirts, shoes, and jewelry are all very important to me, so I use only the best. Everything has to match perfectly and be coordinated with all the other articles I wear. When I get to school and see maybe two or three other people dressed up like me, it tells me a lot. I find out who really cares about this kind of thing and who doesn’t. The girls, and occasionally boys, who get all dressed up for dances are usually the one who dance on every song - and who you dance with can certainly change everything.

Usually I dance with just my friends and, if I’m lucky, the guys I like. For me, a dance has never “started” anything with anyone. Until now, that is. I stood there dancing with one boy who I was very good friends with, and suddenly I felt something that I never had felt before. You could almost see the sparks flying around us. It was probably the most enjoyable dance I’ve ever had. It has changed a lot of things for me, all for the better. There are also many instances where dancing can ruin relationships. Someone could say no, a very rare situation, but it’s happened to me. The dance can be awkward to the extreme, also one of my personal experiences. I know for a fact that a dance can make or break feelings for someone.

Junior high dances are amazing things if you can learn to navigate them properly. Although the differences between the age groups are huge, deciding what to wear causes great anxiety, and a single two-minute dance can change everything, I still love them. After years of experience like I’ve had, you can’t help it. In health or in sickness, for better or for worse, I’ll always end up going.