Please mechanically describe how you dance - got told I dance funny

[Codat]

So I get my bounce from being on my tip toes and going up and down. Knees are slightly bent but they are fixed. As I bounce I stick a hip out. One hip out/bounce per beat. And just do generic arms in the air.

Someone told me I dance differently to everyone else and now I’m scared. Just realised everybody gets that bounce from bent knees.

Now I’m bloody paranoid.

I’m 30 and know I’m not an amazing dancer. But like to be social/have fun. I’m not doing the worm in a dance battle just enough to participate

If you dance differently to everyone else, it can't have been news, surely?

Or do you just dance alone at home? 🤣

I thought I was doing the same as everyone else. Just bopping to the beat

It depends what kind of music you’re dancing to, really. I would say that fixed knees does sound unusual, I can’t even really visualise what you’re describing. On tiptoe, dropping your heel up and down and then sticking your hip out? Just one hip or do you alternate?

I’m no dancer either, but I do take an adult dance class just for fun. My timing is truly terrible.

Honey, I can't dance to save my life! But I don't give a flying rats arse. For me, I kinda shuffle, feet from one side to the other. Little bit of hip swaying. Occasionally 'wave my hands on the air like I just don't care'. I probably look like someone having an epileptic fit, ah well. Who's watching? Just me & the tunes.

So I’m on my tip toes and then I lower and lift my heels for the bopping action - in time with the beat. I shift my weight on each hip (alternate) to coincide with the bounce.

I don’t see why the person felt the need to comment, they sound rude! I’m a terrible dancer but have trained myself over the years not to care as much! Try not to overthink it and sod them, dance how you like!

It really doesn’t matter as long as you’re having fun. I can’t say I know anyone that bounces on their toes like that but who cares?

Mechanically, I’d say when I’m dancing just for fun at home or at a party I’m stepping around in a small circle, bum wiggling/kind of rolling my hips instead of sticking a hip out. My movement definitely comes from soft knees though.

Caveat that I’m not a very good dancer at all but I don’t think I bounce much at all? Unless I’m at a rock gig or something. Mostly the movement comes from my hips and a bit of arms?

Just want to say I love this thread.

I do a bit of a shoulder wiggle that I quite enjoy

@Fudgetheparrot I was just thinking my only bouncing is at gigs. With a sports bra! 😆

Interesting my shoulders don’t move at all!

I think this sounds delightful! And not weird, quite ordinary

In not on my tip toes I'm on full weight of feet.

Presumably you’re dancing in flat shoes, not heels?

Sometimes when I get quite into it I bend my knees and point my index fingers diagonally upwards and jab them like I'm trying to poke flies.

This is my deliberately-silly dance

You must have amazing toned calves @Codat being on your tip toes and alternately lowering your heel.

All this mentioning of bouncing makes me thing of Cuba Gooding Jr in Jerry Maguire.

As an aside, this thread reminds me of David Mitchell. This is how he would learn to dance! I mean that in a nice way, I like David Mitchell

I don't think there is a "usual" way of dancing is there? It's self expression. You do you!

Have you watched Strictly and taken tips from this ?

Pick a song you like and that is has an easy beat to follow and watch yourself dance it’s sounds like you are trying to use dance moves rather than just moving to the music

Different people have different styles. I dance like this at home when I'm cleaning up and the kids hate it when I do the Monica in the bedroom doorways 🤣
https://youtube.com/shorts/Ot3KAzJQBk8?si=TXRVv-KbdHFU218k

Who told you this?

Honestly I don't know how much thought I would give it if I were you. I feel like on the dance floor you can basically do anything as long as you don't look completely uncomfortable in yourself and nobody notices or cares.

Indeed the only people who generally get attention are those who dance particularly well. That's when people woop, cheer and form a circle around the random person breakdancing like they're in an early 00s teen street dance movie.

Everyone else is just stepping/bending/shuffling with varying rhythmic talent. At a certain point in the night people are just falling over to music.

Before you start any dance lessons I would consider who said this and why. I'm pretty awful at dancing. The only person who ever noticed or said anything was an ex who loved putting me down. He hated dancing and would go to clubs and just stand statue still on the dance floor - much more noticeable than whatever bad dancing I was doing.

At the time it really made me paranoid and I started trying to copy people and dance normally but looking back I think he was just jealous I was happy to dance and wanted to put me down. He later started insulting the way I smile, the way I dress, the way I talk and the way I performed various sexual acts. Just putting it out there that I would be wary of the person oh so helpfully pointing this out to you.

Whoever that person is is horrible. Dance exactly how you want, life is too short to worry about what others think.

I love this. I just stood up and tried dancing following your 'instructions'. I think I looked pretty funky. 🤣😍

I'm sure you dance just fine, OP. My dancing style depends on how drunk I am. If I've had a few I go full on Kate Bush.

Possibly unusual technique but If i saw you doing this I would think 'she's awesome!' I do think it's more usual to move more side to side (hips, feet, shoulder, knees, head) in a swaying motion rather then up and down unless at a crowd at a loud gig where you would bounce with your arms above your head (I imagine).

I too am loving this thread. I find as I age I care much less about what others think about my dancing skills. I draw all the clumsy dancers out onto the dance floor, emboldened by my overconfident writhing and bopping. The crazier the better.

Dancing is so weird anyway if you think about it. It's a pure and purposeless expression of joy and energy at having a body and being alive!