As a bloke, I used to think dancing was simply out of bounds for me. As a 6'4" less than ample fella, doing things gracefully does not befit me. This was until recently when I chanced upon a dance class (Ceroc/modern jive) when I was at a local social club. I was actually at the club to see a blues band, but due bad weather the band had cancelled. The rest as they say is history. Made me think though...

...Why is it that at most parties these days, while the beat is pounding out of the sound system at a volume that makes all social interaction (except dancing) difficult, the majority of guests opt to sit and drink and attempt to talk. Occasionally a few girls get up and jig together, champagne in one hand, doing the “hitch-hiker” with the other and the guys look on, as if observing some endangered species at the wildlife park, stuck to their seats by the glue of fear. It's like being at a club but with less drunken idiots I guess.

And fear they should. Where else in society is your every movement of every limb under public scrutiny?

Every time I tried to dance I felt like a dork and generally looked like one too. On top of that there was trouble with hearing the beat which made me feel awkward, there are certainly parts of my figure that I don’t like and I don’t like others looking at them and on a lonely dance floor. Come on, there isn’t anybody who doesn’t notice.

The thing that I found out at the class was that they all admire whatever it is that gives you the courage to care less about public opinion, breathe a good deep lung-full of freedom and just be yourself.

You all know what I’m talking about, when you all have felt the fear of turning up to something for the first time with no prior knowledge or experience of. In my case it was turning up for my first dance class, Shaking in my boots literally – and the boots didn’t help the whole affair either.

You have to have a good deal of courage to learn to dance. It’s not courage over the fear of injury or death or the kind of courage an investor has about financial risk. It’s something much greater: courage to overcome the fear of ridicule or scorn, the courage to do what you want to do for your reasons even though it may make you an object of public humour or mockery, … otherwise known as “self-confidence”. It doesn’t matter that what we fear hardly ever happens. Our fear is a powerful obstacle nonetheless.

So, do you dance?

I love to dance. It helps free the mind

I dance only when the tips are good.

Last time I danced we were the only ones on the dance floor.

We still had a good time.

The music was great and so is my dance partner.

I am starting to realise that if you are the only two on the dance floor, who cares what others think? If you're enjoying it, that's all that matters.

I used to think I could dance.........then, I saw video....trust me....not good.

Doesn't matter, if the tune is good and I have a couple of drinks in me....I got no problem dragging some poor gal out there to make a spectacle of ourselves. I speciealize in the bump and grind slow mosh. Sure is better than my "The Robot".

Oh Krupa, I wanna do the bump and grind slow mosh with you!!!

Of course I love to!

I dance alone in my kitchen especially when feeling blue or really, really good (think this will an evening for blue kitchen dancing) and on the rare occasion out, if the music is good and I am a little loose I will dance there too. My gosh it has been years since I danced any where but home!!

Sadly I only slow dance years of truckin takes it's toll on the knees .But then again slow danceing is almost as good as makeing love if you have the right partner !

<----retired dancer/teacher

If you slow dance that well, you don't have to fast dance!

Sometimes you just need to dance some crap out!

Not sure if I do it that well or not but it's all I've got !

I've pretty much done it all ... two-steppin' at Gilley's (Pasadena),
ballroom dancing, disco, alternative/new wave, and so on.

My strangest dancing experience? On the way home from a dance club
with a good friend (late 80's?), a song came on the radio and my friend
commented how much she loved dancing to the song and suggested we
pull over and dance. So at about 1am, we pull over on the freeway's
shoulder lane (US 59 in Houston), turn up the radio, get out, and dance.

We can make it happen darlin. I am the only guy I know who really needs to wear a condom to dance.

All the time!



Great way to stay in shape...

I've been known to dance in the middle of a grocery store isle when the mood strikes me, and I never pass up a chance for a slow dance to elevator music. I love to dance.

I absolutely love to dance and there is nothing sexier than a man willing to dance just because I enjoy it.

I LOVE to dance!!!!

A form of exspression!!

Just lead me to the pole baby!!