When Did I Walk Into A Strip Club?

So the last two days have been a holiday here in Nicaragua. It just so happened to be Day of the Teachers, so I felt as if it was quite acceptable for me to enjoy it to is full and maximum extent (which I did with various activities including a boat ride to an island, a relaxing swim in a lovely pool, and a ride on the back of a motorcycle driven by a man toting a pistol in his waistband. More on that later).  After all, Teacher Appreciation Week at home was full of free food, nice gifts, and general appreciation for my profession. I was sure it would be just as nice here.

Boy, was I wrong. In fact, any answers or insight to what I am about to describe is welcomed.

It started off well enough. We got to school early and Karla and I got to work hanging streamers and generally making the place look festive. This took approximately two hours and as soon as the last streamer was hung, as if on cue, everybody swarmed in and took their seats. The ceremony began first with the national anthem, and a poem, followed by a few speeches from the students. 

That´s when the dancing began. 

The announcement was made that a trio of first graders would be doing a dance, and they materialized out of the crowd, wearing matching outfits and the cutest little smiles. I thought,  "Oh how cute!" and reached for my camera.

Then the heavy beat of reggaeton thudded like a hammer and before I knew it, these sweet angelic five year olds were droppin´it like it was hott. I mean, HOTT. They got low with moves befitting any stripper on my home town´s seedy Rt. 11. My mouth dropped. I looked around to see if anyone was concerned. 

Nope, just me. In fact, a few of the teachers were smiling happily at me, and checking to see if I was happy as well. I was certainly not.

I wish I could say it stopped there, but in fact, it did not. We moved right up through the grade levels, with each dance getting progressively more suggestive and me becoming more horrified. I took a picture at one point and then immediately felt like a pedophile, so you will not be seeing it. 

I don´t know which was worse-the blatantly sexual dancing of these young girls, or the crowd of adults, including teachers, who cheered, whistled and carried on with each flip of the hair and thrust of the pelvis. 

Apparently, I did not even see the worst of it. After talking with the other volunteers, it seems there have been other dances where boys and girls will simulate sexual moves and positions together, again, all while the crowd cheers them on. 

I do not have facts or statistics to back this up, but after a few conversations in the last two weeks, it seems that Nicaragua has an elevated rate of teen pregnancy. I am not surprised. Of course, my own country has its own alarming rate of teen pregnancies. Judging, I am not. Looking for insight, I am. 

Thoughts?