# Who does like dancing then? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 25, 2003, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-like-dancing-then/190977 "2003-07-25T22:12:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-like-dancing-then/190977/21 "2003-07-26T04:31:37Z")
**KAndre** – probably depends on how the teacher runs the class. The main teacher in my area has everybody switch partners quite frequently – so you don’t have to show up with a partner already. Personally, I think this is better, because it encourages people to learn to lead/follow, rather than just memorizing a pattern that you do with the same partner the same way every time. The better dance classes will have you dancing with more than one person, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![KAndre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@KAndre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KAndre)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-like-dancing-then/190977/22 "2003-07-26T04:39:10Z")
Cool! I vaguely remember always leading when I learned the box waltz(?) back in jr. high for gym class (not co-ed). Any suggestions on what to avoid? ---
**Author:** ![Zap\_Rowsdower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3da27b/32.png) [@Zap\_Rowsdower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zap_Rowsdower)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-like-dancing-then/190977/23 "2003-07-26T12:15:40Z")
I enjoy dancing, and have taken several classes from CW to salsa. I have been told that I lead well. The only problem is that I will dance for a while, then get distracted by other types of activities forget what I learned. It would be easier if I had a dance partner I could rely on. I am not real good at asking strangers to dance, but if I already know someone then no prob. I would love to try ballroom sometime. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-like-dancing-then/190977/24 "2003-07-26T12:26:07Z")
I like to dance, although I don’t know how to dance well (specifically salsa and merengue). ☹ It is good, though, when I get a good partner willing to guide me and I can dance for a while with him. 🙂 I can dance slower dances and ska/reggae alone, and often do. Aaah… 🙂 I wish I could do that every night, good workout. ---
**Author:** ![KAndre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@KAndre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KAndre)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-like-dancing-then/190977/25 "2003-07-26T12:58:48Z")
Hey **Zap\_Rowsdower** , where’d you take your classes? Perhaps regular dancing could be arranged. **KarlGrenze** , you’re absolutely right. It is a _great_ workout, and since it doesn’t seem like exercise, that immediation reaction of “Exercise! Ick!” doesn’t kick in for me. ---
**Author:** ![Nvme77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Nvme77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nvme77)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-like-dancing-then/190977/26 "2003-07-26T14:14:39Z")
I love to dance as well. My husband, althoiugh not too big on dancing, is a sometime willing partner. We have a big family wedding to go to in December and he always promised to take a dance class with me. Now would seem an opportune time because the wedding will be a Mexican wedding with lots of polkas and cumbias. I need to have a partner this time; I’m tired of fighting over my Dad with my Mom. Poor man will have a heart attack. ---
**Author:** ![Zap\_Rowsdower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3da27b/32.png) [@Zap\_Rowsdower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zap_Rowsdower)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2003, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-like-dancing-then/190977/27 "2003-07-27T04:14:29Z")
**KAndre** I have taken my lessons at [http://www.ssqq.com/](http://www.ssqq.com/) Usually there are more women in the classes, but they frequently change partners so you can get used to dancing with many types. However most of the classes I have been in the men out number the women, though they usually will pull more experienced women from other classes to fill in. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2003, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-like-dancing-then/190977/28 "2003-07-27T05:12:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > \*\*I’m probably the only girl who went to Limelight and Palladium in the '80s to _dance_, not have sex and buy drugs. \*\* Nah, I was there, too (or at least 1986-89)…although we were more often at the Tunnel. My first intro to the club scene, as I didn’t turn 18 until Sept. 1986… Here’s a funny related story…to make it to the head of the line and have the bouncers actually let us in, we found it helped to be dressed a bit on the eclectic side. One day I went out and bought this really cool (to my Midwestern sensibilities) dark purple shirt with little batik white stars all over it from a little Indian place in the Village. My roomie and I went out dancing, and were soon completely drenched in sweat…we grabbed a cab back to the dorm at about 5 am, and peeled our clothes off in the dark and crashed into bed. The next morning I was quite dismayed to discover the amazing powers of batik dye transfer when I got up to take a shower…my entire upper body was dark purple with little white stars! I tried to take the shirt back, but the store owner just thought I was stupid, because doesn’t EVERYONE wash all their new clothes in a solution of cold water, vinegar, and salt before wearing them? ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2003, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-like-dancing-then/190977/29 "2003-07-27T10:07:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KAndre \* > \*\*Since there seems to be a number of serious dancers responding, how awkward is it for a single female to join a dance class? Do we all end up dancing with each other or what? \*\* I assume it varies quite a lot, so look for a class that suits you. I go to a fairly social class at my university, where non-couples is the norm, and only occasionally get really left out. (I did notice that in the first few weeks there was a surplus of women, (who often danced with each other), but later there was a surplus of men. I don’t know why.) ---
**Author:** ![KAndre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@KAndre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KAndre)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2003, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-like-dancing-then/190977/30 "2003-07-27T14:57:31Z")
Thanks, **Zap\_Rowsdower** and **Shade** , Strangely enough, I feel a little reassured if there be a surplus of women, I’ll always have a dance partner! ---
**Author:** ![look\_ninjas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@look\_ninjas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/look_ninjas)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2003, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-like-dancing-then/190977/31 "2003-07-27T15:37:15Z")
I like dancing! I don’t know how, exactly, but it’s never stopped me yet. ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2003, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-like-dancing-then/190977/32 "2003-07-27T16:29:35Z")
I like [Contradance](http://www.freenet.hamilton.on.ca/link/jig/a_contra_dancers_primer.htm) and [English Country Dancing](http://www-ssrl.slac.stanford.edu/~winston/ecd/repasky.htmlx) and that’s about it. But I also like more folksy music (i.e., less rock and roll and pop stuff) and I like the elegance of the English Country Dance. Makes me fell like Jane Austen. ---
**Author:** ![AntaresJB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c2a13f/32.png) [@AntaresJB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AntaresJB)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2003, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-like-dancing-then/190977/33 "2003-07-27T19:54:21Z")
I lurve to dance. I’m not much for dances that actually have steps, but just moving your body to music… I love it. It’s just a great means of self-expression, a way to feel the music and make it a part of your whole body. I don’t dance very often because I don’t really have anyplace to dance, as I’m only 19 (20 in about 2 weeks!) and the cover charges for under-21s at clubs around here are atrocious, plus I don’t really have anyone to go with… but any chance I get, I dance. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-like-dancing-then/190977/34 "2003-07-28T05:13:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jodi \* > \*\*I adore dancing. Born and raised in Montana, y’all, so I even like _line-dancing_. (Okay, I like long-neck beers and cowboys more, but line-dancing ain’t bad. Sometimes.) > I \*\* I LOOOOOOOVe Dancing, I teach it and especially teach line dancing. You’d love my line dancing classes. I teach at a university, and the students are fond of saying (after a few classes and they’re thinking "THIS is “LINE DANCING???”). This AIN’Tcher Achy Breaky. I use hip-hop, techno and rock almost exclusively and any country I do use is more along the lines of what we used to call southern rock. The dances themselves tend to be choreagraphed with sporty/hip-hop/jazz moves too rather than yer boring grapevines and heel touches. We have a group up here that does the “traditional” line dances and we call them “boards with feet” 😃 Anyway, back to the OPs question. I love dancing so much that I’m leaving Alaska for Texas to move to where there actually IS a decent dance community, Anchorage’s has dwindled to nearly nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-like-dancing-then/190977/35 "2003-07-28T06:54:45Z")
> [@](#): > > You’d love my line dancing classes. I teach at a university, and the students are fond of saying (after a few classes and they’re thinking "THIS is “LINE DANCING???”). > > This AIN’Tcher Achy Breaky. Same here, **CanvasShoes** , when I teach them. I try to find more interesting and newer dances, to newer music. You won’t find me teaching Achy Breaky – no way in hell! I just wish the regulars at the club I teach at could handle more of the newer stuff… I presume you would know about the Kickit database. What choreographers do you look for when you need new dances? I like Jo Thompson’s stuff, in particular. For those who think line dancing is mostly of the Achy Breaky variety, think again. It’s gotten very big over in Europe, in fact – and there are tons of people doing line dance at the competitions over there. To plenty of types of music – country, techno, latin, and others. ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dread_pirate_jimbo/32/3897_2.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-like-dancing-then/190977/36 "2003-07-28T08:12:08Z")
Partly as something to do and partly to learn how before our wedding so we didn’t look like complete tools at the reception, **featherlou** and I started taking lessons a couple years ago and have had a pretty good time with it. We now know enough different dances and moves to actually look pretty good to the casual observer. In particular, we love the Latin dances – merengue, cha-cha, cumbia, salsa, mambo. Can’t say as we like bachata and we have yet to try a tango, but I’m game to give it a shot eventually. We have an excellent instructor here, a world-class salsa dancer (he and his partner have won or placed in a number of international salsa competitions), who has done a very good job teaching us. I’m told that I lead very well compared to many of the people in our classes. Although we live in Calgary, home of the friggin’ Stampede (or perhaps because of it) I have taken the stand that I will not learn any country dancing, to the disappointment of my wife. I don’t have anything against the dances themselves, just the mere thought of doing anything that involves country music – not my taste at all, I’m afraid. ---
**Author:** ![Zap\_Rowsdower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3da27b/32.png) [@Zap\_Rowsdower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zap_Rowsdower)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-like-dancing-then/190977/37 "2003-07-28T11:58:31Z")
\*\*Dread Pirate Jimbo \*\* I’m not a big country fan either, though I do have a couple of CDs. I never listen to it on the radio, but for some reason I really enjoy dancing to it. The dancing is fun, so I would say at least give it a try. Remember your wife will then owe you something. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-like-dancing-then/190977/38 "2003-07-28T12:57:47Z")
I love to dance. I can do swing and I might remember some merengue, but usually I just go out to a goth club and flail around. Best exercise in the world. ---
**Author:** ![bayonet1976](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@bayonet1976](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bayonet1976)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-like-dancing-then/190977/39 "2003-07-28T13:19:11Z")
Oh man, do I love dancing. Well ok, not just dancing, dancing to latin music. I don’t mind getting on the dance floor and jumping around to the latest techno or whatever, but put some latin music on and I’m there. Back in the day I loved dancing disco too, but unlike latin music, I found that to look good dancing disco you really needed to pratice with your partner. Not so with latin music. Even with a new partner, a little direction, a look down to make sure you’re both on the same beat, and you’re off. Looking like you’ve been dancing together for years. I love the intimacy of latin dacing too, you’re holding your partner’s hand, your arm around her waist, and if you’re dancing merengue you’re working hard to put a shine on both your belt buckles, or slightly below that. But even on a generic salsa, you’re both there. And come on, the beat is so obvious, it’s easy to dance. Oh yeah, and this applies to dance in general, I also love the feeling, after dancing song after song, of sweat dripping from my body, but not feeling tired or out of breath at all. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-like-dancing-then/190977/40 "2003-07-28T13:38:58Z")
I adore dancing. I want to take ballroom dance classes, but Mr. Kalhoun doesn’t dance. And they frown upon bringing a female partner (why! What’s the dif?). I dance with my cats all the time. And I enjoy dancing and singing with my “hairbrush microphone” to Annie Lennox. On my coffee table stage. I danced with Mr. Kalhoun once. I had to tell him that the key to dancing was to MOVE ONE’s FEET! He’s all upper-body boogie and no hooves. It’s a pity, really. He doesn’t hate it. Just no self-confidence. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-like-dancing-then/190977.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-like-dancing-then/190977.md?page=3)