# The "I have never wanted to dance, not even a little bit" thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 6, 2010, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-never-wanted-to-dance-not-even-a-little-bit-thread/538527 "2010-05-06T17:16:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-never-wanted-to-dance-not-even-a-little-bit-thread/538527/21 "2010-05-06T19:16:23Z")
I don’t dance, but I wish I did. It seems to be a valuable skill on the way to getting laid. ---
**Author:** ![DChord568](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@DChord568](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DChord568)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-never-wanted-to-dance-not-even-a-little-bit-thread/538527/22 "2010-05-06T19:17:28Z")
As a musician, I’ve had a long-time built-in excuse for not dancing…I’m always up on the bandstand making the music for the dancing instead. I’ve no objection to a sexy slow dance with a beautiful partner, but I haven’t really done any fast dancing since high school (with one exception), and I don’t miss it. I do plenty of moving around on the stage, but I’m dancing with my guitar, I guess. The one exception: several years ago, I went out one night with my brother and sister-in-law to a club. The band they had was decent…sort of zydeco-themed with a few other styles thrown in. Both of them love to dance and are good at it, and I was perfectly content to sit and watch them and listen to the band. But the whole night through, they kept bugging me to get up and dance too. I kept demurring, and they kept bugging. Finally, mostly to shut them up, I did get out on the floor, and danced about the only way I knew how, a sort of modified version of The Jerk that I used to do back in high school. And after all that pressure for me to get up and dance, they immediately began mocking me and making all kinds of fun of my admittedly pathetic attempts. Thanks a lot, guys! I think it’s fair to say that I’ve danced my last now. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-never-wanted-to-dance-not-even-a-little-bit-thread/538527/23 "2010-05-06T19:24:17Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I don’t dance, but I wish I did. It seems to be a valuable skill on the way to getting laid. True dat. I love to dance and in college got laid many times as a result of dancing with girls as a pickup routine. ---
**Author:** ![Simmerdown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simmerdown/32/14859_2.png) [@Simmerdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simmerdown)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-never-wanted-to-dance-not-even-a-little-bit-thread/538527/24 "2010-05-06T19:44:23Z")
> [@DChord568](#): > > As a musician, I’ve had a long-time built-in excuse for not dancing…I’m always up on the bandstand making the music for the dancing instead. > > I’ve no objection to a sexy slow dance with a beautiful partner, but I haven’t really done any fast dancing since high school (with one exception), and I don’t miss it. I do plenty of moving around on the stage, but I’m dancing with my guitar, I guess. This is me, exactly. I am also a musician. I didn’t mention it in my previous post, since it seemed to OP wanted to hear more of the “nope, I don’t dance–hate it” type responses. But as the guy up on stage, I \*can \*comprehend the urge, and I encourage it. It’s fun to play music for music’s sake, but it’s a lot more fun when you can get a crowd up on their feet. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-never-wanted-to-dance-not-even-a-little-bit-thread/538527/25 "2010-05-06T19:59:22Z")
Not even with my self. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-never-wanted-to-dance-not-even-a-little-bit-thread/538527/26 "2010-05-06T20:19:09Z")
I like to dance mostly by myself to just move to the music for the fun of it. The whole idea of “dance lessons” or that there is a right way or wrong way to dance is just lost on me. Once you formalize it and are doing it for presentation you just zapped all the fun out of it for me. I detest shows like _Dancing With The Stars_ where they actually judge the dancers. I say if it feels good while you’re doing it then you’re doing it right. F everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-never-wanted-to-dance-not-even-a-little-bit-thread/538527/27 "2010-05-06T21:03:29Z")
No desired to dance, ever. Being bugged about it is an almost immediate deal breaker for any kind of relationship. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-never-wanted-to-dance-not-even-a-little-bit-thread/538527/28 "2010-05-06T21:23:49Z")
Female here. I don’t like dancing. I don’t even like dancing in the privacy of my own home. I love to watch people dancing though. I love to watch people standing still. Hell, I love to people-watch. People get so offended that I don’t want to dance. I don’t get it. I recently found a solution. I just took lots of pictures of everyone else dancing. Every time someone would try to force me to dance, I’d blow them off because it interferes with my ability to take pictures of THEM dancing. Luckily my boyfriend doesn’t like to dance either. ---
**Author:** ![blindboyard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindboyard/32/2833_2.png) [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-never-wanted-to-dance-not-even-a-little-bit-thread/538527/29 "2010-05-06T21:28:20Z")
Dancing bad. Never understood any of this “fun” stuff people keep going on about. This is a good one: [David Mitchell Refuses To Dance](http://m.videosift.com/video/David-Mitchell-Refuses-To-Dance) ---
**Author:** ![Diver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@Diver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diver)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-never-wanted-to-dance-not-even-a-little-bit-thread/538527/30 "2010-05-06T21:32:18Z")
Male here. I am dance dyslexic. I always sort of wanted to dance but absolutely can’t. All my life people have told me how easy it is to dance,refuse to believe that I can’t do it, and want to teach me how. I am at the point where that pisses me off and I tend to not be polite any more. ---
**Author:** ![bink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/439d5e/32.png) [@bink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bink)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-never-wanted-to-dance-not-even-a-little-bit-thread/538527/31 "2010-05-06T22:31:07Z")
Female, hate it, terrible at it. If I’m dancing, that means I’m dangerously intoxicated and should be brought home immediately. Had an outdoor wedding so the issue was neatly avoided. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-never-wanted-to-dance-not-even-a-little-bit-thread/538527/32 "2010-05-06T22:57:13Z")
Male, I’ll do it at a club or a big party with a girl. I prefer to be buzzed. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-never-wanted-to-dance-not-even-a-little-bit-thread/538527/33 "2010-05-06T22:59:59Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > So you’re saying, not “I am tenaciously avoiding the social awkwardness of dancing around other people” but, in fact, “I don’t know what it is to hear music, or a rythym and feel an urge to move along with it.” Right? Not quite, but pretty much. Not quite, because I do find myself unconsciously tapping my foot or fingers in rhythm. But that’s the extent of the movement I engage in as a result of listening to music–and there’s no enjoyment involved, either. But other than that, yes, pretty much exactly as you say. There really do seem to be two kinds of people on this in a pretty fundamental way. My reaction is incomprehensible to you, and yours is incomprehensible to me. I’m like, “why would you _do_ that?” And you’re like “How could you _not_?” ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-never-wanted-to-dance-not-even-a-little-bit-thread/538527/34 "2010-05-06T23:00:39Z")
I love to dance. Is it because you feel you don’t dance well enough or that you just don’t get that feeling to move to the music? I dance at home when the spirit moves me. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-never-wanted-to-dance-not-even-a-little-bit-thread/538527/35 "2010-05-06T23:03:17Z")
> [@Perciful](#): > > I love to dance. Is it because you feel you don’t dance well enough or that you just don’t get that feeling to move to the music? I dance at home when the spirit moves me. It’s the latter–I simply don’t feel any urge to "move my body to the music. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-never-wanted-to-dance-not-even-a-little-bit-thread/538527/36 "2010-05-07T00:41:53Z")
Hmm. This did get a bunch of quick amens. I’m curious. A couple questions for non-dancers (no intent to offend or insinuate here)… Do you exhilarate in your body at all? That is, do you ever run, or climb things, or do anything physical because it just feels good to _move?_ To be clear: I’m not talking about pleasure sensations like sex and food and drugs, nor even endorphin effects from extended exertion. I’m talking about the exhilaration of bodily activity _itself_. Or is this notion as incomprehensible as wanting to dance? Also, what kind of music do you enjoy most? ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-never-wanted-to-dance-not-even-a-little-bit-thread/538527/37 "2010-05-07T01:02:01Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > Hmm. This did get a bunch of quick amens. I’m curious. > > A couple questions for non-dancers (no intent to offend or insinuate here)… > > Do you exhilarate in your body at all? That is, do you ever run, or climb things, or do anything physical because it just feels good to _move?_ Not speaking for anyone else here. What I think when I read the above is, basically, “What the hell is he talking about?” So… no. 😛 (I have enjoyed things like hiking and climbing in the past, but not because it feels good to move, but rather because I enjoyed the scenery and the challenge.) > [@](#): > > Also, what kind of music do you enjoy most? Some bands (and individual songsters) I like that I can think of at the moment: They Might Be Giants Sparks Sufjan Stevens The Residents The Chap Jonathan Coulton Bishop Allen The Billy Nayer Show Gary Numan Talking Heads Math The Band ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-never-wanted-to-dance-not-even-a-little-bit-thread/538527/38 "2010-05-07T01:02:18Z")
I do enjoy moving. I am not a good swimmer but I’m good underwater. I love how my body moves underwater. I also like playing in the waves. I would LOVE to learn to SCUBA dive. If I lived closer to the ocean, I’d definitely do that. I’d always be in the water. I would love to dive a flooded town, like the 3 under Quabbin. Do they allow diving in reservoirs? I like how it feels to ride a bike (except on my butt). I don’t much like running but that’s mostly because of my crackly knees. I used to really like lifting weights and I like the step, boxing, and obstacle course parts of my Wii Fit. If I can get slightly more coordinated, I might actually try a more complicated step routine than the one on the Wii. I also like wall climbing but my arms are in no shape for that right now. Forgot the music. I like all music but I tend to gravitate to oldies, classical, and 80’s rock. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-never-wanted-to-dance-not-even-a-little-bit-thread/538527/39 "2010-05-07T01:08:11Z")
Of all the ways there are to sweat, dancing is at the bottom of my list. What a waste of energy. I walk at least 4 miles a day with my dogs in the park. I play racquetball for 8 to 10 hours a week. I weight lifted for over 40 years. I played softball until I was 55. I played golf 3 times a week and played Publinx Tournaments. I ran the mile in school. I still hate dancing. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-never-wanted-to-dance-not-even-a-little-bit-thread/538527/40 "2010-05-07T01:30:21Z")
Male. Non-dancer, absolutely zero interest in participating. In fact I’ll admit I find non-professional dancing even a little annoying as a spectator at times ( yep, not a fan of dance clubs ). > [@spark240](#): > > Do you exhilarate in your body at all? That is, do you ever run, or climb things, or do anything physical because it just feels good to _move?_ To be clear: I’m not talking about pleasure sensations like sex and food and drugs, nor even endorphin effects from extended exertion. I’m talking about the exhilaration of bodily activity _itself_. Or is this notion as incomprehensible as wanting to dance? No. Pretty incomprehensible :). Like **Frylock** I like hiking or taking walks for the scenery and whatnot. That brief moment in time where I played around with jogging, it was purely a health thing. etc. > [@](#): > > Also, what kind of music do you enjoy most? Bits of just about all genres, really. Classical to punk, country to rap. I’m even fond of some 1970’s Disco 😃 . If I avoid any genre it is probably very generally lighter pop music. Not sure how I’d define it, but anything sounding like Justin Timberlake is probably a reasonable place to start. In an earlier generation that would included soft rock like, say, Air Supply. ETA: I did love playing in the water as a kid. But that was sort of a special case I think. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-never-wanted-to-dance-not-even-a-little-bit-thread/538527.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-have-never-wanted-to-dance-not-even-a-little-bit-thread/538527.md?page=3)