I've always been terrified of dancing in public cause I can't dance for shit but at the same time it was always something I've wanted to do. Last friday I went to a small party with coworkers and after drinking a lot I, for the first time, decided to join them and dance. Drunk me is just as bad at dancing as sober me but didn't really care lol. It was fun and I had a great time. That's all really, just felt like sharing a small victory. Maybe I'll pick up dancing someday.
Congratulations on the small victory!
Hell yeah!
It wasn't until my 30s until I was comfortable dancing.
It helped to have a partner with you. Then you can go, "Let's just dance weirdly" and then laugh while making moves on the dance floor.
If you have no partner, alcohol is also a excellent friend!
If there’s one place you probably won’t be the worst dancer it’s a wedding. Especially if Grandma’s had two glasses of champagne
You are wrong. Somebody has to be the worst dancer, and it's me. Went to a wedding earlier this year and it was lovely and enjoyable until it was dancing time. Tried to avoid participating, but family was persistent so I finally stood up, reluctantly. It was awful and I was fully self-conscious to an extreme degree, even after some drinks and edibles. I nearly cringed my eyeballs the wrong direction. Dancing is me at my most socially awkward, 0/10 would not recommended...
I used to think this way, till I actually learned a little bit on how to dance and then how to let go. Don't wanna look like a fool? Learn to two step first, then pick up something simple if you can. Do the "instructions" dances like the electric slide and the hustle. Then learn to use your hips.
Learning to let go was harder, but I found it easier to embrace silliness. I decided I could look dumb on accident or on purpose, and decided on the latter, so did "sweet moves" that would make people laugh - throwing in old disco moves and such (the bus driver).
Then something happened I didn't expect: I actually got decent at dancing. Turns out getting out of your own head is a great way to get loose, and suddenly you're doing your thing and enjoying it, and you're willing to try out other moves that actually do look like you might know something.
Point is, dancing is for everyone, just gotta find the right headspace (and the right music, it's still hard for anyone to dance to music they don't enjoy imo).
Your post is just a list of reasons I will never be able to dance
Ok I'll bite: what's stopping you from learning to two step? That was the first thing I listed. You have access to the Internet, you can get really good at dancing just watching YouTube and practicing what they do. Less fun initially I'm sure, but doable.
Also my God does dancing make women more interested in you if you're a dude. It's not magic where they'll suddenly flock to you but it's a lot easier to buy a girl a drink after you've made her laugh or spun her on the dance floor. So, there's some extra motivation if it applies.
dancing is for everyone, just gotta find the right headspace
This is exactly it. I used to hate dancing because I felt that I couldn't dance and everyone would look at me and laugh. It took a bit to realize that literally no one who is dancing is judging the other people around them. They're just out there moving around and having a good time. You can literally walk on to a dance floor and just vaguely move around a bit bouncing your head, and you'll fit right in.
Sadly, the "right headspace" for me involves either several drinks in quick succession, or it being my wedding.
I mean, I do think it goes along with indulging in something, bit of booze and weed, or stronger on occasion depending on the kind of party. I can do some dancing sober but it loses it's appeal much faster.
I do know people that love dancing sober as a bird, I just don't think that's gonna be everybody, or even most people. It's like any social event, a lot of people are gonna want at least one or two drinks to let the walls come down a bit.
Lot of people though that flat out won't put themselves out there and I think that stinks for them, you never know what can come from getting outside of your comfort zone. For me, I never would've gotten together with my wife if I wasn't willing to dance, and a few years before we met I was on the "I hate dancing" train for a while, so I know where some of that comes from.
I don't have it in me. Music just does not cause me to want to move my body. I can do the line dance ones but that's just following directions which doesn't seem to be what it's all about to me.
Oh no? You don't tap your foot, or bob your head to your music? Humans have been dancing for millennia, it's in our DNA. It's cool if it's not your favorite thing, but unilaterally ruling it out is wild.
I got made fun of for my dancing by a pretty girl in middle school, made me keep away from the dance floor for years, and I didn't know what I was missing out on.
Same here. The issue for me, I think, is that my feelings about music are the same as my feelings about chocolate; it's fine, but I don't see why everyone makes such a fuss about it.
My lack of interest in dancing is just an extension of that.I did country dancing (essentially line dancing, but done in a circle and without the country and western theme) a couple of times at primary school in the 80s. I quite enjoyed that, but as you say, it was about following the instuctions and patterns rather than reacting to the music.
dancing is for everyone, just gotta find the right headspace (and the right music, it's still hard for anyone to dance to music they don't enjoy imo).
I disagree. If it implies forcing one self and a lot of work, it definitely isn't for everyone. On top of that, some people (me) just refuse to dance, because I find it stupid and not even funny.
YEEES. I've been going through this and feel like an emergent butterfly. LEARN TO DANCE. It will open up entire new worlds--like dance floors at weddings! Think of the possibilities! And it's honestly just a blast.
Any resources on learning to use your hips?
Shakira lol and that's only kind of a joke, bc she's amazing at using em. I'd suggest watching YouTube or piped videos, and just watching dancers. Latin dance in particular emphasizes it, so may want to look that direction first. The easiest Latin dance to learn is merengue as that's just a two step with some extra hip movement that is easy to pick up by watching.
dancing is for everyone
I'm sorry, but that's just not true. Like most things: sports, computers, athletics, intellectual pursuits, dancing; they may have wide appeal, but they are not for all people. Just because you finally enjoyed it, and even excelled at it doesn't mean everyone will.
I'm not saying everyone must dance, but everyone should try dancing multiple times and at different stages of their lives, just like the rest of the items you listed. Failing at something once or not enjoying it once and then swearing it off forever is honestly just sad.
My wife did that to me once.
She even had the guts to do it on the first song of our own wedding.
Felt like a proper fool.
Just slam some tequila. Then you won't care if you look like Elaine while you're dancing.
Wait! You've seen her dance?
Took me more than 30 years, but I've finally realized that dancing fun and it doesn't matter is you look like a fool.
Plus you never know what could happen on the dance floor wink wink
Like get those hip pains from over exerting? I get that now in my 40s from dancing.
Can relate. I vehemently hate dancing, to the point I can get upset even if someone just suggests it to me.
You should pick up dancing…
GFTO, lol
Skip wedding. Problem solved.
