I checked 3, I can go through the rest of my life never dancing again in public.
My wife likes it, so I’ll dance every time she asks (because she’s the boss.)
It’s not like I’m embarassed by my (lack of ability for) dancing, it’s that dancing at wedding or parties is boring and pointless. I might dance a song i particularly like, but that’s it
I went with 7.
I take dance lessons twice a week. I social dance once a week. I own dance shoes. Despite being a 6’2" 37 year old heterosexual male, I will happily bounce around the station to the music on my iphone whilst waiting for my train.
However, I don’t bust it out whenever there’s music. I also prefer a lead/follow partner situation.
Ronald Reagan commenting on a college dance: http://youtu.be/QCr3nL78qWs
Interesting distribution of responses. I expected a bell-shaped curve. Besides the extreme dancers, it’s pretty uniform.
I was expecting the usual “nothing fits” SDMB poll, but response 4 is exactly right. I know I can dance in a highly mediocre manner, and have taken dance classes too, but I fucking hate it and avoid it at most costs, unless I absolutely have to for social reasons or I’m hammered.
I wish we could do away with the idea that there is any “social reason” which would force us to dance. I hate the pressure at weddings, etc, to get up and dance, and, of course, I refuse. Seems to piss off the host, but jumping Jesus, leave me alone. Dance if you want, but I’m not insulting you if I sit quietly and watch all the “fun.”
ETA: I have told my daughters that they each get one dance with me at their weddings (if they want), but that’s the only two times during the remainder of my life I plan on dancing.
Needs the “other” choice.
For me it’s entirely music-dependent. Pop dance music does absolutely nothing for me. I hate weddings or ending up in a (what I consider lame) club situation because they play (what I consider) crappy music. I can kind of fake it to Ms. Gaga or whatever the flavour of the week is, but I’m uncomfortable, unhappy, and looking for a way out. So on that score I’d put a 1.
On the other hand …
*The kids they dance and shake their bones… *
Whether it’s a Dead show, a rave, funk, afrobeat, gypsy punk or a range of other styles, if what’s pumping through the speakers is primarily created by musicians who really love music for the sake of music–love playing for fun, not just to look good and turn a buck–then I can’t help but get my groove on. As a percussionist I’ve got a solid lock on Rhythm (hmm, maybe that would be a good choice for a username) and while I don’t have any fancy ‘moves’ per se (wrong scene), people who’ve seen me in both situations are usually pretty amazed at the difference. On that note, I’d mark a 10.
*I’m still walkin’, so I’m sure that I can dance.
Just a Saint of Circumstance, just a tiger in a trance. *
Those of you who don’t dance because you don’t think you’re good at it, would you rank yourselves higher if you felt you were somewhat competent?
I’m not a particularly good dancer, but I still love to do it. There’s so much music that, when I hear it, I feel like moving along to it. You non-dancers never (or rarely) get that urge? That just seems so foreign to me. I understand that self-consciousness might keep you off the dance floor, but I don’t get that the urge isn’t there. It seems such a universally human thing to want to dance.
I would have to be Fred Astaire or Michael Jackson to really like to dance more. I’m such an unembarassable goof (at 41) that self-consciousness is not an issue. I hate being supposed to (like to) dance.
it’s not.
It is one of the two traits that defines being human – those who do not want to dance may be humanoid, but they are not human. The other trait that defines being human, of course, is being a cat fancier.
I’ve been surprised at how few at the SDMB like to dance.
I took lessons in my childhood and even a couple dance classes for my Theater minor in college. But, I’m by no means a good dancer. I do ok and stay off my wifes feet. I have to be careful because I’ve already had one knee surgery thanks to sports. She has a much stronger background in dance then me.
I really don’t care what others think while I dance. I’m out there for fun and to get some exercise.
I’m surprised it’s not lower.