Photos by Ashley Alonzo
OTTAWA–In today’s society, Hip Hop dancing has become one of the main trends people of all ages and races have adopted. From the song “Chicken Noodle Soup” to the “dab,” students from Ottawa University seem to know them all.
“I remember the song ‘You’re a Jerk and Lean Back’ from middle school. During recess everybody would make a circle, and the person in the middle would jerk it and lean it,” said Kaylee Williams, who also mentioned to have learned the song “The Dougie” at a school event during her middle school days.
Even at OU during halftime of basketball and volleyball games, songs such as “Crank That” are still being played.
“I’ve heard the song ’Crank That’ a couple times during the Basketball games, and it makes me want to dance, but I don’t want people to laugh at me, so I don’t,” said Haley Trump, who sometimes listens to throwback music while driving and secretly snaps her fingers to the song “Snap Yo Fingers” by Lil’ Jon.
Not everything is about oldies, though. In fact, many students at OU enjoy listening and making dance move to the newbies.
“Shimmie Shimmie Shay” is a dance move Williams made for when a good song comes on and she just wants to dance.
For some students, dancing has become necessary in today’s society. Troy Porter Jr. discussed the idea of how important dancing is, and he specifies the new dance move “dabbing” as crucial.
“Dabbing is an art. I mean, there’s a reason why on the song it keeps saying look at my dab; it’s an art that wants to be expressed, something that wants to be seen,” Porter said.
“Dabbing has become a constitutional right, just like right below the right to bear arms. You have the right to dab whenever you want,” he concluded.
On the other hand, Terrance Polk argued that dabbing might not be a must, but it is a trend that everyone follows.
“Dabbing is just a fashion! Whenever you hear a good song or something that makes you turn up, you just dab,” said Polk, who also explained that because he sticks to the usual, dabbing is his main move.
Although not everyone knows how to dab, there is always a way to learn, starting from YouTube videos to even accepting advices from friends.
“Put your hands up and act like you sneezing, but sneeze like you sneezing to your elbow” is an advice Polk usually gives to those who do not know how to dab.
“Doesn’t matter where you are, doesn’t matter who’s there, you can be at a wedding and just walk up and dab,” Porters added, encouraging every student and staff at OU to express this fine art at any occasion.