Media release – Madeleine Ogilvie MP, Independent Member for Clark, 27 August 2020
Let the Children Dance
Madeleine Ogilvie MP, Independent Member for Clark, today called for dancing at school formals to be allowed.
“I asked yesterday about further investment into wellbeing for Tasmanians, and today I have asked the Premier to allow dancing at school formals,” Ms Ogilvie said.
“Students have had such a difficult time this year. We are COVID-19 free right now so there is an opportunity to reassess the risk to permit young people to dance at their end of year formals.
“We are having our very own Footloose moment.
“Surely there is some way, when kids are already on buses together, in classes together and playing sports together, that they be allowed to dance.
“I’m calling on the Premier to speak with Public Health to see if we can get kids back onto the dance floor.”
Editor’s note: In parliament today Premier Gutwein said the situation was ‘sad’ but there would be no dancing on his watch.
For those who may not have seen (or don’t recall) the 1984 movie Footloose, the following synopsis is from the Internet Movie Data Base:
Classic tale of teenage rebellion and repression features a delightful combination of dance choreography and realistic and touching performances. When teenager Ren McCormack and his family move from big-city Chicago to a small Midwestern town, he’s in for a real case of culture shock. Though he tries hard to fit in, the streetwise Ren can’t quite believe he’s living in a place where rock music and dancing are illegal. However, there is one small pleasure: Ariel Moore, a troubled but lovely blonde with a jealous boyfriend. And a Bible-thumping minister, who is responsible for keeping the town dance-free. Ren and his classmates want to do away with this ordinance, especially since the senior prom is around the corner, but only Ren has the courage to initiate a battle to abolish the outmoded ban and revitalize the spirit of the repressed townspeople. Fast-paced drama is filled with such now-famous hit songs as the title track and ‘Let’s Hear It for the Boy’.
