# Have you ever attended a house party where there was dancing like in movies/TV? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 9, 2019, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-attended-a-house-party-where-there-was-dancing-like-in-movies-tv/839945 "2019-09-09T18:19:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2019, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-attended-a-house-party-where-there-was-dancing-like-in-movies-tv/839945/21 "2019-09-09T23:35:59Z")
Yes. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2019, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-attended-a-house-party-where-there-was-dancing-like-in-movies-tv/839945/22 "2019-09-10T01:47:21Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > At house parties I went to in the 1970s and 1980s there would be dancing if there was a room big enough for it. No idea if it’s still a thing. Same same. Parties were either dancefests or make out events. You got to know which was which by who was hosting. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2019, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-attended-a-house-party-where-there-was-dancing-like-in-movies-tv/839945/23 "2019-09-10T02:41:09Z")
Certainly. Some Dopers will remember attending parties at my place where such occurred. Have a band in, they play. People dance in the living room or on the lawn depending on how we’ve set things up. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2019, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-attended-a-house-party-where-there-was-dancing-like-in-movies-tv/839945/24 "2019-09-10T02:47:07Z")
No dancing, lots of drinking games. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2019, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-attended-a-house-party-where-there-was-dancing-like-in-movies-tv/839945/25 "2019-09-10T04:35:55Z")
Yes. And later me and my dance partner went and made out on the beach. And it was in LA! I was living the movie dream. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2019, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-attended-a-house-party-where-there-was-dancing-like-in-movies-tv/839945/26 "2019-09-10T05:25:18Z")
I’ve been to very many house parties with dancing over the years. Numbers matter - noone’s going to dance if there’s, like, ten of you there. And drink. I find the dancing normally kicks off pretty late, once skinfulls have been imbibed. Of course, I go to mostly gay-heavy parties. And the gays do love a wiggle. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2019, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-attended-a-house-party-where-there-was-dancing-like-in-movies-tv/839945/27 "2019-09-10T05:48:08Z")
> [@digs](#): > > But the all-too-common portrayal of parties in the media make The Default Party as a wild dance party, with unlimited alcohol, loud music (sometimes with a band, or “one of the gang” as a DJ). Maybe the “default” party wasn’t that, but the best parties were.😃 I went to a number of parties in Boulder Colorado in the 70s. My housemate was friends with a guy who was a contractor and made enough money to put on a good party. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2019, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-attended-a-house-party-where-there-was-dancing-like-in-movies-tv/839945/28 "2019-09-10T05:55:27Z")
No, but as someone upthread alluded to, a lot of times there isn’t enough room in a single room of a house for everyone to dance. Even at parties where there was _some_ dancing, there has never been _everyone_ – or even close to 50% – dancing where I’ve been to, outside of weddings and proms. But I _have_ been to parties where all the _other_ hijinks ensued, like alcohol, music, singing, poker, carrying on, flirting/making out, (although not _always_ all of them at the same party): just not widespread dancing. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2019, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-attended-a-house-party-where-there-was-dancing-like-in-movies-tv/839945/29 "2019-09-10T06:10:31Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > At house parties I went to in the 1970s and 1980s there would be dancing if there was a room big enough for it. No idea if it’s still a thing. Same here. The last house party I remember attending where people danced was around 1983. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2019, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-attended-a-house-party-where-there-was-dancing-like-in-movies-tv/839945/30 "2019-09-10T07:08:33Z")
Dancing like in the movies? No, because the dancing in movies sucks. Our house is a Craftsman, with hardwood floors, and configured with a large dining room, living room, and an adjacent room, without dividing walls. So it’s perfect for throwing large parties with dancing, once the furniture is pushed aside. But it’s salsa, merengue, vallenato, casino, etc., not the crappy dancing in movies. ---
**Author:** ![Mesquite-oh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@Mesquite-oh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mesquite-oh)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2019, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-attended-a-house-party-where-there-was-dancing-like-in-movies-tv/839945/31 "2019-09-10T07:19:06Z")
Just to be clear, what I am talking about is like what happens in almost all movies that involve teenagers/young people: the pivotal party scene that is almost the same in every movie. In the scene, the hero has to make his way through a big room full of dancing young people (and his rival) to met up with the girl of his dreams (who is angry with him) and her skeptical best friend. I always say to myself “What in the name of John Hughes is this? Teens don’t dance at parties.” Well I guess they do, at least sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2019, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-attended-a-house-party-where-there-was-dancing-like-in-movies-tv/839945/32 "2019-09-10T08:13:47Z")
> [@Mesquite-oh](#): > > Just to be clear, what I am talking about is like what happens in almost all movies that involve teenagers/young people: the pivotal party scene that is almost the same in every movie. > > In the scene, the hero has to make his way through a big room full of dancing young people (and his rival) to met up with the girl of his dreams (who is angry with him) and her skeptical best friend. > > I always say to myself “What in the name of John Hughes is this? Teens don’t dance at parties.” Well I guess they do, at least sometimes. So you’re not just asking if there was dancing, but also if this sappy John Hughes scenario happens? No, because John Hughes movies are total bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Mesquite-oh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@Mesquite-oh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mesquite-oh)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2019, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-attended-a-house-party-where-there-was-dancing-like-in-movies-tv/839945/33 "2019-09-10T08:41:29Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > So you’re not just asking if there was dancing, but also if this sappy John Hughes scenario happens? > > No, because John Hughes movies are total bullshit. No, my question is about whether or not people truly dance while attending parties like they do in the movies/TV. Please don’t talk bad about John Hughes movies. There is a place where all your John Hughes dreams come true. It is a magical place where Samantha Baker, Duckie, Jonathan Bender, and Ferris never get old. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2019, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-attended-a-house-party-where-there-was-dancing-like-in-movies-tv/839945/34 "2019-09-10T09:11:21Z")
> [@Mesquite-oh](#): > > in movies and on TV, it seems like there are always people dancing at parties that are being held at someone’s house. > > I have been going to parties for four decades, and I have never, not even once, been to a party where people were all gathered in the living room dancing. > > I have been to parties where people were gathered in little groups, talking, drinking, eating, swimming, playing pool, watching sports on tv, and listening to music. But never dancing. Dancing goes on at clubs, weddings, and proms, but not at people’s houses. Have I just been going to the wrong parties all these years? Oh you better believe it. I’ve been to waaay more than my share of dance parties and they are just like the movies, and then some. But I live in Southern California… ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2019, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-attended-a-house-party-where-there-was-dancing-like-in-movies-tv/839945/35 "2019-09-10T12:26:22Z")
Yes, many times. Those are the best parties, IMO. It’s just more. . . festive (as opposed to just standing around drinking). ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2019, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-attended-a-house-party-where-there-was-dancing-like-in-movies-tv/839945/36 "2019-09-10T12:37:25Z")
It’s pretty usual in my experience, at least when I was younger. I even remember an 8th grade birthday party (in the late 80s) having dancing. But, when I got older, certainly there was dancing at college parties, and when I hosted a number of parties myself in my 20s, there was always loud music and dancing in one of the rooms. Nowadays, most of the parties I go to (which isn’t all that many) are much more subdued, so I’m not really remembering much dancing, but in my teens through twenties, yep. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2019, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-attended-a-house-party-where-there-was-dancing-like-in-movies-tv/839945/37 "2019-09-10T14:22:57Z")
Sure, dance parties get less common after college, but then, parties in general get less common after college. Most adult social events aren’t “parties”; they’re “let’s get together to do X”. And then the primary focus of the event will be doing X. Like, the last social event I attended was a D&D game. None of us were dancing, because we were playing D&D instead. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2019, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-attended-a-house-party-where-there-was-dancing-like-in-movies-tv/839945/38 "2019-09-10T14:57:55Z")
Being a Burner,\* yeah, complete with a DJ. The music is mostly EDM (aka Oontz). \*A participant of Burning Man. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2019, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-attended-a-house-party-where-there-was-dancing-like-in-movies-tv/839945/39 "2019-09-10T15:10:27Z")
It was at just such a party in, I wanna say 1974, that I learned that I was NEVER going to be able to learn how to do the Hustle. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2019, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-attended-a-house-party-where-there-was-dancing-like-in-movies-tv/839945/40 "2019-09-10T15:32:15Z")
All the time in college and none of them were frat houses. I can remember one awesome night of dancing on a table passing a bottle back and forth that’s marred only by one of the other dancers being my ex-wife. Dancing at house parties largely went away with age. When all my friends who wanted to dance were of age to legally drink and weren’t poor students, we’d just go out to a club. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-attended-a-house-party-where-there-was-dancing-like-in-movies-tv/839945.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-attended-a-house-party-where-there-was-dancing-like-in-movies-tv/839945.md?page=3)