Dirty dancing has become a hot topic after a Southeastern Michigan school adopted a policy giving students two wristbands. If they danced inappropriately, one of the wristbands is taken. If it continues, the second band is taken and the student is kicked out of the dance. NBC25 talked to a local school who had trouble recently.
It's called "grinding" or "freak dancing." In 2008, Bangor Township's John Glenn High School held a community meeting after several students were asked to leave a sadie hawkins dance for dancing inappropriately.
Tony Bacigalupo, John Glenn High School principal, says "Just because they see it on MTV doesn't make it appropriate in high school." Bacigalupo was the assistant principal at the time of the incident, now he's the principal.
He says tensions got out of control when the dance started late. The DJ had issues with the sound equipment, and students began to "grind."
Now he says better organization helps students know what's expected of them. "We ask our students to dance face to face. I remember some of the old policies were with a ruler. That's not really around any more, nor is it practical. We simply ask our students to dance face to face and appropriately."
Bay City Central's homecoming is coming up soon. The principal tells NBC25 he'll make an announcement Thursday and Friday regarding the dance policy. He says that if students are dancing inappropriately, he'll tap them on the shoulder and warn them. He says if that behavior continues, they'll be kicked out."
"Our goal isn't to catch anybody doing something wrong. Our goal is so they know what to do ahead of time," says Bacigalupo.
The principals say the dance is also a part of the students' education by letting them know the rules and then holding them to the standard.
