Q. I understand that there is a real risk that
my teenage children will soon be exposed to a craze for something known as freakdancing. I am told that the activity is undesirable. Can you enlighten me as to what exactly is involved in freak-dancing, and then advise how to prevent my children from being peer-pressured into joining in?
HC., Dundee, Scotland A. Freak-dancing involves the girl leaning at an angle while a male partner, gripping her buttocks from behind, simulates coupling in time to the music. Simultaneously, the girl gyrates over a second partner who lies on the floor thrusting his pelvis towards her mouth area. They are aping rock-video footage, 50 per cent of which is generally pelvocentric. School administrators in America have issued edicts that freak-dancing will not be permitted at this year's proms, but this redrag-to-a-bull approach will only spur on the teenagers when they are out of sight of adult invigilators. In this case, the power of laughter may be mightier than the sword. A more effective deterrent might be for you and your wife, together with a male family friend, to pose for a freak-dancing photograph. Roaring with raucous laughter, you should regularly show it to your children and their friends. This will lead them to assume that freak-dancing is already passé, and that there is no 'outrage' mileage to be had from it; and
they will be more inclined to steer an independent course on the dance floor.