Freak Out!

It’s dancing that goes beyond dirty. And, after years of gritted teeth, teachers say their dance card is full when it comes to “freaking”—a dance style that some say looks like sex with clothes on.

At Simsbury High School in Connecticut, after trying different kinds of music with little effect, administrators sent a letter home in January, telling parents that “back-to-front dancing” was now banned. The response from students? Six kids bought tickets to the next dance. At a nearby high school, a similar effort requiring students to sign an anti-freaking contract also resulted in a cancelled dance.

“At this point, it doesn’t look like we’re going to have any more dances this year—even the proms are in question. Put them in a fancy dress and they don’t change!” says veteran Simsbury High math teacher Karen DiMenna, an experienced (and grossed-out) chaperone. “I may be an older staff member, but I don’t think my views are particularly outdated—it’s just nasty,” she says.

For their part, the students say they “don’t know how” to dance any other way, DiMenna notes. But, lest you get the wrong idea about the younger generation, there’s also a thriving ballroom dance club at the high school.

After this year of roses and crowns, Berry plans to return from center stage to the classroom, going back to OU for her senior year.