Pity the editor who this week struggled to describe “twerking.”

An energized squatting dance, rapidly shaking one’s rear, is putting it mildly.

Think stripper. When a man is involved, his crotch pushed against the girl’s butt, it’s pretty much a lap dance.

Young girls in Kansas City paid $10 each to “perform” this move Saturday night at the All Gold Everything/March Madness Twerk Fest. Five people wound up shot.

Police said people who had gold teeth, gold jewelry or gold clothing got in for half price. That’s right, gold teeth for a cut rate.

If a predominantly white high school or fraternity parodied a Twerk Fest, people would go ballistic calling racism.

The night glorified thug-life black stereotypes, extremely inappropriate with all ages allowed. Fifteen-year-old girls were doing the booty pop dance for 20- to 30-year-old men.

Kansas City’s young people deserve better. In fact, their willingness to be so overtly sexualized for older men screams for it.

Many of these girls are surrounded by a range of poor influences, too often encouraging them to act far beyond their years.

It’s no mystery. When young people have safer places to push boundaries, more positive things going on in their lives, they’ll be less apt to rush to an event where their safety is compromised.

Only one unlicensed “guard” was present at the Twerk Fest.

Mayor Sly James is right to call for more activities for young people, funded by an extra $5 to parking fines.

Great community centers — a range of safe options for teenagers — accomplish two things. They accentuate what teens are receiving at home or supplant it. It’s what community does.

Those arguing that parents should be responsible first are correct. But be realistic.

Coaches, dance teachers or a mentor can have a tremendous impact on a young person — regardless of a family’s wealth. Upper middle-class parents can be negligent, too.

Clearly, many who attended the Twerk Fest aren’t being parented well.

Police said about 150 young people were in the parking lot long after the shooting started inside the hall. They were stuck, too young to drive.

Fifteen-year-olds have no business socializing late at night with 20-year-olds, the age of some of the victims.

This wasn’t a concert with entertainment on a stage and a range of ages just gathered in seats, less free to mingle.

The security of the young people, much less age-appropriate behavior, wasn’t a concern, otherwise the promoter would have gotten the necessary permit from the city.

Kansas City can do better. This event just proves some people are eager to prey on our least protected children.