It wasn't the terrible lighting or students hiding their faces for fear of being caught freak-dancing on camera that made getting this photograph so tough. The kids loved having their photo taken while bent at a 45-degree angle, dipping and grinding to the sounds of rapper 50 Cent.
The principal was the one on edge. Well, it was Saturday night at a high school dance. I understand his position. He is there to protect the integrity of the school and its students.
But I was there to get the reality of the situation, be it lindy hop or the popular, sexually charged freak dance. Documenting what I see is not only my job but my obligation as a photojournalist. Besides, we'd been invited.
Still, my attempts at getting telling photos of freak dancers were closely guarded.
I got my own chaperone, which made my job more difficult. When the kids' dancing got hot and heavy, I would go for a shot but be administratively thwarted. I was only allowed to do large group photos, mostly of girls dancing. I was not allowed to get students' names.
And though at first I was allowed to do video, later that right was revoked as well.
So one could say that the school administration and I were dancing, too. But where they were square-dancing, I was trying to tango.
monica.lopossay@baltsun.com