Oldest DC is now in HS and I remember being completely surprised how much MS dances have changed since I was that age!

There's no slow dancing and the music is typically an upbeat mix of hip-hop, latin and pop. There's also food and extras like photo booths, props/give-aways/accessories and fun backdrops, all social media ready. "Dancing" consists of kids energetically jumping up and down and forming circles so kids can do tricks, otherwise show off or attempt to dance battle. Phones are always out, and it's all captured and readily available in real time, online. There are still plenty of opportunities for kids to just hang out on the perimeter, bathrooms or outside space, if available.

FWIW, not that much changes in HS. There's still no slow dancing, but more songs that give a bump and grind feel. Established couples will spend time together, but it's still largely just a big social free-for-all, with more hormones in play

Anonymous wrote:My 13yo went to his first dance today (Cooper). He didn’t give me any details.

I vaguely remember going to a dance in middle school. I’m pretty sure I stood around with my girlfriends and didn’t even dance.

The brave ones will dance then everyone else will join in

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of middle school boys don’t want to go to dances. Really the only ones who like them are the girls who want to show off.

Or girls and boys who are social. But way to put your misogyny on display.

Why are you so bent out of shape that not everyone likes middle school dances?!

Anonymous wrote:A lot of middle school boys don’t want to go to dances. Really the only ones who like them are the girls who want to show off.

Or girls and boys who are social. But way to put your misogyny on display.

A lot of middle school boys don’t want to go to dances. Really the only ones who like them are the girls who want to show off.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SCA at cooper put on our dance and it was wildly successful. Tons of chaperones (parents and staff) and it was a great night for the kids. I think if dance is student-driven like ours was (they had all the students vote on the theme, and they picked Hollywood), then the kids get much more excited and invested and it’s a well attended event.
I would suggest going to your next PTO meeting at the school and find out if the SCA has considered having a dance, and if they haven’t, you should suggest it! There is a budget for these things, and if the money is not used, it just goes towards some other worthless fundraising event at the school. Dances are so memorable and makes middle school and much more special time of life. I remember my middle school dances in FCPS and those was 30 years ago!

Seriously?! That’s kind of sad.

Imagine calling someone's nice childhood memory sad. God, you people are miserable.

X1000

Right? I mean, I find it concerning, not sad, that someone doesn’t remember a single thing about a middle school dance. I remember snippets, some good some bad. But nothing? Maybe time for a neuro workup.

I really can’t remember anything about my middle school dance because it was not memorable. I vaguely remember it being dark and standing on the side.

+1 I don’t even think ours had one. Nothing in middle school was that great.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would much rather see a middle school PTA put on a movie night or a Bingo night in which all kids can participate comfortably rather than a silly dance.

No MS aged kid wants to go to Bingo night and movie nights were put on in ES. For kids just out of ES, attending another movie night isn’t going to be met with enthusiasm.

Agree. A movie night was suggested to our middle school SCA and they voted it down immediately.

Anonymous wrote:I would much rather see a middle school PTA put on a movie night or a Bingo night in which all kids can participate comfortably rather than a silly dance.

No MS aged kid wants to go to Bingo night and movie nights were put on in ES. For kids just out of ES, attending another movie night isn’t going to be met with enthusiasm.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 7th grade, 13 year old's report:

Lots of girls - occasionally a boy or two - dance wildly in a group and sing. Eat snacks. Drink soda. Run around taking silly photos and videos. My son who never stays for the entirety of any event actually stayed and hung out with a couple friends the whole time.

Doesn't sound much different than my MS dances.

+1
I got the same report from my 12 yo.

Yup, same report from my 6th grader.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SCA at cooper put on our dance and it was wildly successful. Tons of chaperones (parents and staff) and it was a great night for the kids. I think if dance is student-driven like ours was (they had all the students vote on the theme, and they picked Hollywood), then the kids get much more excited and invested and it’s a well attended event.
I would suggest going to your next PTO meeting at the school and find out if the SCA has considered having a dance, and if they haven’t, you should suggest it! There is a budget for these things, and if the money is not used, it just goes towards some other worthless fundraising event at the school. Dances are so memorable and makes middle school and much more special time of life. I remember my middle school dances in FCPS and those was 30 years ago!

Seriously?! That’s kind of sad.

Imagine calling someone's nice childhood memory sad. God, you people are miserable.

X1000

Right? I mean, I find it concerning, not sad, that someone doesn’t remember a single thing about a middle school dance. I remember snippets, some good some bad. But nothing? Maybe time for a neuro workup.

I really can’t remember anything about my middle school dance because it was not memorable. I vaguely remember it being dark and standing on the side.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SCA at cooper put on our dance and it was wildly successful. Tons of chaperones (parents and staff) and it was a great night for the kids. I think if dance is student-driven like ours was (they had all the students vote on the theme, and they picked Hollywood), then the kids get much more excited and invested and it’s a well attended event.
I would suggest going to your next PTO meeting at the school and find out if the SCA has considered having a dance, and if they haven’t, you should suggest it! There is a budget for these things, and if the money is not used, it just goes towards some other worthless fundraising event at the school. Dances are so memorable and makes middle school and much more special time of life. I remember my middle school dances in FCPS and those was 30 years ago!

Seriously?! That’s kind of sad.

Imagine calling someone's nice childhood memory sad. God, you people are miserable.

X1000

Right? I mean, I find it concerning, not sad, that someone doesn’t remember a single thing about a middle school dance. I remember snippets, some good some bad. But nothing? Maybe time for a neuro workup.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SCA at cooper put on our dance and it was wildly successful. Tons of chaperones (parents and staff) and it was a great night for the kids. I think if dance is student-driven like ours was (they had all the students vote on the theme, and they picked Hollywood), then the kids get much more excited and invested and it’s a well attended event.
I would suggest going to your next PTO meeting at the school and find out if the SCA has considered having a dance, and if they haven’t, you should suggest it! There is a budget for these things, and if the money is not used, it just goes towards some other worthless fundraising event at the school. Dances are so memorable and makes middle school and much more special time of life. I remember my middle school dances in FCPS and those was 30 years ago!

Seriously?! That’s kind of sad.

Imagine calling someone's nice childhood memory sad. God, you people are miserable.

X1000

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SCA at cooper put on our dance and it was wildly successful. Tons of chaperones (parents and staff) and it was a great night for the kids. I think if dance is student-driven like ours was (they had all the students vote on the theme, and they picked Hollywood), then the kids get much more excited and invested and it’s a well attended event.
I would suggest going to your next PTO meeting at the school and find out if the SCA has considered having a dance, and if they haven’t, you should suggest it! There is a budget for these things, and if the money is not used, it just goes towards some other worthless fundraising event at the school. Dances are so memorable and makes middle school and much more special time of life. I remember my middle school dances in FCPS and those was 30 years ago!

Seriously?! That’s kind of sad.

You’re sad. And pathetic.
Having good memories of middle school is a blessing. My 75 year old mother has fond memories of her “junior high” Friday night dances as well.

Let me guess - you peaked in high school?

No, high school sucked actually. College was the highlight.

Anonymous wrote:I would much rather see a middle school PTA put on a movie night or a Bingo night in which all kids can participate comfortably rather than a silly dance.

My kid isn’t a dancer and still manages to “participate comfortably (?!)” at a school dance. Maybe a dance is exactly what your kid needs to broaden their social skills.

Anonymous wrote:I would much rather see a middle school PTA put on a movie night or a Bingo night in which all kids can participate comfortably rather than a silly dance.

But the kids won’t want to go to Bingo night. The dance sounds fun.