# Is it acceptable to say "No" to dancing at a company function? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 2, 2013, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-acceptable-to-say-no-to-dancing-at-a-company-function/662445 "2013-07-02T14:41:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2013, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-acceptable-to-say-no-to-dancing-at-a-company-function/662445/81 "2013-07-03T21:02:01Z")
> [@phreesh](#): > > I’ll just say that I’m disapointed in some people’s view of humanity. Do YOU make fun of large people dancing? I don’t. In all fairness, most people who chose to dance at these things deserve to be made fun of. > [@phreesh](#): > > I feel sad for people who can’t share in the common experience of dancing together. It’s really a fundamental human experience undertaken by all cultures throughout time. So is murdering people who rub you the wrong way. ---
**Author:** ![nogwart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nogwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nogwart)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2013, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-acceptable-to-say-no-to-dancing-at-a-company-function/662445/82 "2013-07-03T21:39:50Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > Question for the OP: You make it sound as if everyone was dancing the _entire_ event and were trying to coax you the _entire_ event. Surely people did something else other than dance? If not, I completely commiserate. It sounded like a nightmare. After dinner (and dessert), the main focus was the dance floor. It was quite large, and they were very much enjoying the thing where everyone lines up in two rows, then takes turns dancing with the individual directly across from you down through the middle of the two lines. To be honest, it was actually quite entertaining to watch, as various couplings produced very unique and humorous “styles”. Some were VERY (and I mean professional-level) GOOD dancers! Some weren’t. Regardless of other coworkers’ skills, I most definitely did not want to be involved. But, this “main dancing event” lasted only about 30 minutes. Afterwards, the dancing did continue non-stop, but in an unorganized manner. I was “coaxed” most frequently during the “main dancing event” at least a dozen times by a handful of people. But after that, about once every 10-15 minutes by many more. Apparently, for some reason I still don’t understand, the owner had made me his “project” of the evening, and had asked many people to “get that guy to dance”. I honestly don’t know why. He and I had barely spoken prior to this, and I’m not aware of any animosity between us. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2013, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-acceptable-to-say-no-to-dancing-at-a-company-function/662445/83 "2013-07-03T22:10:05Z")
I think the appropriate response is to sing them DMX’s “[I Don’t Dance](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAv7L3HnV1k&feature=player_detailpage).” Bet they won’t ask again. Just move to the beat… ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2013, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-acceptable-to-say-no-to-dancing-at-a-company-function/662445/84 "2013-07-03T22:57:35Z")
> [@nogwart](#): > > After dinner (and dessert), the main focus was the dance floor. It was quite large, and they were very much enjoying the thing where everyone lines up in two rows, then takes turns dancing with the individual directly across from you down through the middle of the two lines. To be honest, it was actually quite entertaining to watch, as various couplings produced very unique and humorous “styles”. Some were VERY (and I mean professional-level) GOOD dancers! Some weren’t. Regardless of other coworkers’ skills, I most definitely did not want to be involved. > > But, this “main dancing event” lasted only about 30 minutes. Afterwards, the dancing did continue non-stop, but in an unorganized manner. I was “coaxed” most frequently during the “main dancing event” at least a dozen times by a handful of people. But after that, about once every 10-15 minutes by many more. Apparently, for some reason I still don’t understand, the owner had made me his “project” of the evening, and had asked many people to “get that guy to dance”. I honestly don’t know why. He and I had barely spoken prior to this, and I’m not aware of any animosity between us. Go figure. What? That’s so weird. Maybe I’m not picturing it right, but I’ve never seen that at any weddings I’ve gone to. The parties at my company don’t including dancing so they’re not relevant. Were there instructions on what to do during the main dancing event? I just wouldn’t know what was going on if I saw that happening at a party. ---
**Author:** ![nogwart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nogwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nogwart)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2013, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-acceptable-to-say-no-to-dancing-at-a-company-function/662445/85 "2013-07-03T23:34:39Z")
> [@Sam\_Lowry](#): > > What? That’s so weird. Maybe I’m not picturing it right, but I’ve never seen that at any weddings I’ve gone to. The parties at my company don’t including dancing so they’re not relevant. Were there instructions on what to do during the main dancing event? I just wouldn’t know what was going on if I saw that happening at a party. Nope, no instructions, everyone just seemed to know how to do the the “line up in two rows, pair off at one end, dance through the lines to the end, repeat” thing. I’d never seen it done before, but apparently it was just understood by all. Your bewilderment matches mine, and makes me feel relieved that I’m not alone. So, thanks for that. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2013, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-acceptable-to-say-no-to-dancing-at-a-company-function/662445/86 "2013-07-03T23:46:35Z")
The line dance you describe sounds like the [Virginia Reel](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_reel_%28dance%29). It’s one of those ANSI Standard Folk Dances that simply Everyone (who doesn’t live in a cave or hollow tree) is Expected to Know. Of course, being a olde-tyme folk dance, there are umpty-ump variations, so you have to know how to play the variant in your neighborhood. Clairvoyance may be helpful. Or, typically, there’s a caller who calls the moves. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2013, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-acceptable-to-say-no-to-dancing-at-a-company-function/662445/87 "2013-07-03T23:50:14Z")
Step all over the feet of the people that insist you dance. It will end quickly and for the better. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2013, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-acceptable-to-say-no-to-dancing-at-a-company-function/662445/88 "2013-07-04T00:01:52Z")
> [@nogwart](#): > > Nope, no instructions, everyone just seemed to know how to do the the “line up in two rows, pair off at one end, dance through the lines to the end, repeat” thing. I’d never seen it done before, but apparently it was just understood by all. > > Your bewilderment matches mine, and makes me feel relieved that I’m not alone. So, thanks for that. 🙂 I don’t think I’ve ever seen that. I have seen a whole bunch of people get up and all dance the same dance, and had that same bewilderment. No idea where they all learned it. FWIW, I like dancing with my wife, but that kind of line dance you describe? Nope. No way. She wouldn’t like it either. ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2013, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-acceptable-to-say-no-to-dancing-at-a-company-function/662445/89 "2013-07-04T15:07:15Z")
> [@nogwart](#): > > Nope, no instructions, everyone just seemed to know how to do the the “line up in two rows, pair off at one end, dance through the lines to the end, repeat” thing. I’d never seen it done before, but apparently it was just understood by all. [Soul Train](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_pVuw8SnBw) Per Wikipedia: Soul Train is an American musical variety show that aired in syndication from 1971 to 2006. The series was created by Don Cornelius, who also served as its first host and executive producer. The show’s opening sequence (during later seasons) contained a claim that it was the “longest-running first-run, nationally syndicated program in television history,” with over 1,100 episodes produced. \*\*There was also the popular “Soul Train Line,” in which all the dancers form two lines with a space in the middle for dancers to strut down and dance in consecutive order. \*\* ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2013, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-acceptable-to-say-no-to-dancing-at-a-company-function/662445/90 "2013-07-04T15:12:54Z")
I understand exactly how you feel. No means no! I eventually did take up dancing and really enjoy it now but before I started dancing this would have ruined my evening. ---
**Author:** ![HumanMonkeyGod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c67d28/32.png) [@HumanMonkeyGod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HumanMonkeyGod)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2013, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-acceptable-to-say-no-to-dancing-at-a-company-function/662445/91 "2013-07-05T09:34:50Z")
Seems like quite a few of us are in the non-dancing boat. I’ve never enjoyed it either and frankly even watching it is fairly dull, only fun if you enjoy mocking people’s moves and faces (and that’s not for me either). I had a remarkably similar experience to the OP some years ago where all co-workers were trying to get stubborn me to the dance-floor, and the tug-o-war ensued - except I was pretty well plastered by that time, so imagine a tug-o-war between a couple of people and a (drunk) sack of flour. Yes, they basically just pulled me off my chair and onto the floor where I briefly passed out. Woke up with some of the office girls dancing over/on me, which motivated me enough to stumble to the actual dance-floor. There I tottered about for a few minutes trying not to step on anyone’s toes, literally, since I got big feet and for some reason a lot of women had gone barefoot, before I stumbled as quickly as I could to the restroom to evacuate fluids orally. > [@madmonk28](#): > > If someone forces you to dance, just grind on them until you finish, no one present will ever ask you again. That’s a good one, will employ it if this unfortunate scenario ever presents itself again. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2013, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-acceptable-to-say-no-to-dancing-at-a-company-function/662445/93 "2013-07-05T10:56:25Z")
Spam reported - rajprem, post #92. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2013, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-acceptable-to-say-no-to-dancing-at-a-company-function/662445/94 "2013-07-05T10:58:14Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > So is murdering people who rub you the wrong way. The world _would_ be nicer place if there was, shall we say, a strong evolutionary disadvantage to the “No means yes” mindset. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2013, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-acceptable-to-say-no-to-dancing-at-a-company-function/662445/95 "2013-07-05T12:38:23Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Spam reported - rajprem, post #92. Well, “porta cabins” has a nicer sound than “porta potties”. Perhaps a line of “out dwellings” and “#2 homes” is in the offing. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-acceptable-to-say-no-to-dancing-at-a-company-function/662445.md?page=4)