One of the longest standing classes at the kids' homeschool co-op has been ballroom dancing. It outdates everyone at the co-op, save the teacher, Dorothy Rose. Fifteen years (at least), she has taught there.
The kids don't just dance on Friday afternoons during class. Some of them, and even some friends who've never taken ballroom, make a habit of attending the twice monthly live music dances at a local ballroom studio.
Big band sounds, live and in person, tempt them onto the dance floor. The group grows and shrinks given the whims and schedules of any given month. At the end of May, it was a particularly large group, somewhere around 18 in all. The rest of the clientele tends to be geriatric, though I've seen an increase in 30 and 40 somethings in the two years we've been going.
I admit, that when our 12 year old wanted to get dropped off at a public dance, I was a little trepidatious. But as it has turned out, I can hardly think of a more wholesome (or fun) way for teenagers to go to a dance. Is there running around and gossiping? Do the 'ship' each other? Date on occasion? Sure they do. But everyone dances, and dancing with someone is not a be-all-end-all statement on a relationship. As Nova pointed out, it is actually good exercise (more than once, I've picked her up with flushed cheeks and a little sheen of perseperiation). The high drama, tears, and standing around waiting for someone to ask you to dance are generally absent. I figure this is because it as much about actually dancing as socializing, and because it happens a couple times a month, the stakes aren't so high. And there are always 2-3 parents who camp out in the balcony to chaperon.
PS, While it looks like the couples don't change, they actually do. I only had my camera out for one dance.
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