Where did you learn to dance?

[zekko]

Any good dancers here? Where did you learn how to dance?

I'm just asking out of curiosity, I'm not looking to become a dancer. I've always been a lousy dancer, and I've never been interested in it. Maybe I'm too analytical, because it's never made any sense to me. Maybe it's too attached to the emotional side. I've watched the occasional YouTube video to learn a particular dance step or whatever. Then I watch someone doing the dance and it looks completely different.

How did you learn to dance, for high school dances or going to clubs or whatever? Or was it just a case of "Dude, just move with the music"?

 

[Konada]

Learnt to dance in college. I danced latin ballroom in a dance club, participated in competitions and performances.

I lean towards more the logical side and analytical side of things, took me awhile to stop thinking and just be in the moment. What I found sets apart the good dancers from the really good dancers is the ability to project emotion into their dance.

You can't really dissect it, its a "feel" thing where you can look at one dancer and feel the tingles but another that is equally good and feel it looks mechanical. You can sort of tell when a dancer is in his head vs in his body.

 

[zekko]

You can't really dissect it, its a "feel" thing where you can look at one dancer and feel the tingles but another that is equally good and feel it looks mechanical. You can sort of tell when a dancer is in his head vs in his body.

I can see that. I'm not a dancer myself, but I can appreciate a good dancer when I see one. Although I tend to appreciate the females more. They look fantastic in their short shorts doing nifty steps.

A lot of guys have talked about salsa dancing here over the years. I could see how ballroom dancing might appeal to an analytical mind. I was kind of talking about more free form (not sure that's the term) floor dancing though.

 

[Von]

College, dating came due To martial art créw getting into tango.

I meet m'y wife at the dance studio

 

[SW15]

I'm not a dancer. I have had a few forays into dancing.

One summer while in my college years, I took some salsa dance lessons. It was ok. I probably would have been better served sticking with those salsa classes during the Fall/Spring semesters. I did salsa classes again a few times for short periods post-college.

In my experience, the salsa classes were not great for meeting women, especially post college. Most other dance class attendees were older than I was.

For salsa, the point of classes is to get good enough to go to salsa venues and dance with the general public. Then, you might be able to pick up. It takes a while to get good enough at that. 1 year + in my estimation. It could be a worthwhile venture if you make time for it under normal times. With the pandemic, that's a no go.

For country style dancing, it's likely a similar learning curve to get good enough to pick up women via country dancing. Dance venue type bars can be good pickup places as compared to the standard bar. A man is best served being good at dance if he's going to do this. Also, these venues can be quite loud.

I assessed and decided to focus upon athletics. Prior to age 18, I had more of an athletics background than a dance background. It's also possible to meet women through athletics but that has its own challenges. Athletics, especially gym weight lifting, is a necessary part of game and seduction. Dance can be a part of an overall fitness regime though.

 

[Black Widow Void]

Watching American Bandstand.

Like yourself, as the analytical type, dancing also didn’t feel impulsive to me. This would only change… after the intoxication combo of alcohol/women.

 

[IKO69]

I'm half greek/italian(sicilian); every summer through highschool I would spend time in Italy and Greece to see my family. Dancing is a big part of the culture --- I learned at the different festivals and functions I attended. As an adult I also took some dance classes here and there at two different studios in my 20's. I honestly don't even really care for dancing but it is something I am comfortable doing in pretty much any setting. Dance lessons are a good investment - you also meet women through them.

** for the guys looking to expand their skill set and meet women: Find a good dance studio and take up a contemporary style. Younger women will gravitate to certain ones, latin one's would be a good bet.

 

[2Rocky]

But to be serious...
Probably 5th grade I went to my first school dance. Just kinda moved to the music. Slow danced in the stiff side to side manner we always see in the teen movies. Made it a point to dance with ALL the girls so I became known as the guy who liked to dance. Soon girls were seeking me out to be their dance partner.

In Jr. High I went to a rural community dance where I saw people doing western swing so I picked up some moves and experience with that. With multiple partners I learned more moves and became smoother. But it wasn't until I took a structured social swing class in college that I learned how to be a good leader on the dance floor. School PE classes doing Square Dancing didn't do that....

 

[Mike32ct]

Took ballroom for about 5 years. I don't do formal dancing anymore (and forgot the steps by now), but it definitely helped my freestyle quite a bit. Years later, I'm still very comfortable (informally/freestyle) dancing at a party, bar, club, etc. with a chick.

 

[2Rocky]

The key was to dance well but not TOO well so you intimidated women who might not be familiar with that style of dance. ie. don't be rigid in your steps and ad-lib if you get out of step... make it fun for her... The guys that dance like it's a competition and they are being scored were not picking up women....

 

[Kotaix]

For me it's just move to the music. I've always been good at it for no reason I can explain. And I'm not good at structured dances like ballroom or salsa, I just move as it comes to me.

Also, women LOVE a guy who can rap. I've seen super hot women go crazy over a guy slaying it with an eminem karaoke. And women's faces change almost immediately to being impressed if I start doing a snoop song.

And there is a distinct difference between trying to dance and just going for it. Women really do react differently when you just go for it, because most guys are too busy trying to do it right instead of letting go, which is the whole point of dancing

 

[Epicenter]

When I was 10 or so our sportsteacher took us on camera and I made some breakdance moves. He showed the video to the girls and I became a star for a very short time. Maybe that created a positive feedbak loop. In my disco time I was the dancing guy. I did even some Disco King competition. Later I took some latin dancing classes. I organized quite a lot of private dancing parties.


When I spent time in the Phlippines one of my projects was to do disco dancing again as a old guy. In the PI Zumba is a big thing as well I did that too. Was a lot of fun. The Karaoke culture there helps to even go deeper with the music and dancing.

I think dancing is or was my calling. My a fun bucket list point is to be the disco king again with 60 and 70years.

My favorite PI song:

 

[zekko]

It takes a while to get good enough at that. 1 year + in my estimation.

I do respect people who can dance well. Even from my minimal efforts, I quickly realized "Hey, this is a skill set". But one that I simply didn't have the time or motivation to try and build. I guess some guys are good at it naturally.

Like yourself, as the analytical type, dancing also didn’t feel impulsive to me. This would only change… after the intoxication combo of alcohol/women.

And unlike you, adding alcohol has never made me more inclined to want to dance. Oh well.

 

[mia7]

I learnt just like most of dancers at the dance studio

 

[Epicenter]

I learnt just like most of dancers at the dance studio

Nowadays there is no excuse. With Zumba everybody can dance at home easily