Dancers(and Dancing!) in the Playground

[loopy]

Hello all. Fresh from watching Step Up 2: The Streets (I know, I know, don't lynch me), I was curious as to how many of my fellow forum-ites danced. I don't really care if its professionally or well, I was just wondering

Do you dance?
If not, why not?
What kind of dancing do you do?
How long have you been dancing?
Have your views towards dancing changed over time?
What does dancing mean to you?

I started on a dance style called the Melbourne Shuffle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oM_7meE_A7k) (originating in the Australian city of Melbourne) late 2006. Before then I had zero coordination (My high school nickname was Unco Owen, heh). When I saw some youtube videos of it, gangly looking white guys dancing with some form of grace and fluidity, to music I actually liked, I was hooked. This was a massive change from highschool, the random waltzing and whatever they make you learn is enough to turn any highschool-aged male off dancing altogether.

I taught myself off the shuffling tutorials (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdbRu_Q_8Ms) available on Youtube, and after a couple months, was passably good at it. Since then I've taught about 100 more people around my area how to shuffle, ages ranging from 6-30.

After a while though, I decided to diversify. I found a latin/hiphop class in my local community center, signed up. Helped me loosen up my upper body especially. Eventually the brokeness that is the bane of my life caught up to me, and I was forced to stop taking the classes, so went back to learning to C-walk off youtube videos (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks8KU7On7zQ).

I dance all the time now. Its one of those things people know me for. My mates occasionally have to tell me I'm doing it, cos I start without realising it as soon as I pick up a beat.

I dance because it brings me joy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ3d3KigPQM), like these people (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0).

So tell me, playgrounders, whats your story?

[Corlindale]

I really like to dance, but I've never done it on anything even resembling a professional level. Heck, I even kinda liked the high-school classic dance stuff...

Unfortunately I don't seem to go to many parties with dancing, though I try not to pass up the oppertunity of participating if I get the chance.
Most of my dancing is done in the privacy of my own home, though. I tend to spice up my exercise routines by throwing in a bit of freestyle dancing between sets, it seems to be the most fun way of keeping up the tempo (jumping on the spot and the like is oh so boring). I'm quite sure it must look perfectly silly, but who cares when no one sees me? :smallsmile:

I've thought about joining a class at some point, but first of all I'm short of money, and second of all I don't really know where I'd want to start.

[Death, your friend the Reaper]

I've always preferred either slow dancing or some form of random mockery of dance nowadays with old classics such as the crocodile, the submarine and sprinkler :smalltongue:

Of course, everyone must have a dance with Death, and I'm saving the last dance for you folks :smallwink:

[loopy]

I've always preferred either slow dancing or some form of random mockery of dance nowadays with old classics such as the crocodile, the submarine and sprinkler :smalltongue:

Of course, everyone must have a dance with Death, and I'm saving the last dance for you folks :smallwink:

I'll totally take you up on it, if you pick a song with a good beat. Dirges are too slow for my taste. :smallsmile:

My funeral will have happy music only, and no black, and I demand my wake be a party!

[Dallas-Dakota]

I only dance with you, Death.:smallwink:

[averagejoe]

I've done some ballroom. Not a lot, but some. Man, that was a lot of fun, I have to get back into that.

[Death, your friend the Reaper]

I'll totally take you up on it, if you pick a song with a good beat. Dirges are too slow for my taste. :smallsmile:

Depends, do you want to shock the relatives with "Highway to Hell" or "Another One Bites the Dust"? Or go for irony with "It's my Life"? Make people paranoid about you coming back with"Thriller". Cremation a bit boring? Play "Through the Fire and Flames" or "Great balls of Fire" :smalltongue:


I only dance with you, Death.:smallwink:
I'm not sure if I missed GB week, but I'll be sure not to clear your cookies of life for a while regardless my good friend DD:smallwink:

[Pyrian]

Love to dance. I have almost no formal training, just a bit of swing and a bit of ballroom, largely forgotten. I'd like to learn some more, but don't really have the time right now. I guess my "style" looks pretty unique as a consequence, which is kind of cool; people sometimes ask me where I learned my moves and I'm like "uhhh, I just kind of make it up as I go..."

[loopy]

Depends, do you want to shock the relatives with "Highway to Hell" or "Another One Bites the Dust"? Or go for irony with "It's my Life"? Make people paranoid about you coming back with"Thriller". Cremation a bit boring? Play "Through the Fire and Flames" or "Great balls of Fire" :smalltongue:


I'm not sure if I missed GB week, but I'll be sure not to clear your cookies of life for a while regardless my good friend DD:smallwink:

Or...
I'm not alone (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clY2RAgXpM0) (Hopefully I won't be)
The Truth About Heaven (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-ENrtsISCo) (way to make everyone look forward to the afterlife
Car Underwater (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YJV19tONVo) (fairly specific form of death though)
Not Now (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXN0pE2Hdt8) (hooray regrets!)
Letters to God (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nqivo_-ox68) (obviously not delivered)
The Adventure (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIZ0iVi4hmM) (I hope I reroll as a beguiler)
I Miss You (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfaJS-8sijQ) (Cos honestly, who wouldn't)
Swans (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vsx7G-pTrPM) (Mournful much?)
Don't Fear the Reaper (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpy_pYXSpPA) (We are on pretty friendly terms, and I have a cowbell)

(I look at my list and see I'm in a fairly rock-y mood, haha)

[OverdrivePrime]

I love to dance, though I'm not particularly impressive. I've taken a number of ballroom dancing lessons and my wife and I can turn heads at weddings and such, but nothing really amazing. Waltz, cha-cha, tango, swing, that kind of thing. As a callow youth, I used to dance a lot at industrial clubs and I still have stacks of fun on a dance floor if there's a good pounding/grinding/ripping track on. My freestyle is a lot of shoulders and hips with some foot sliding and fakes. I cheat like a SOB by throwing in fragments of different martial arts katas when I'm going through collecting moves.

Unfortunately, I can't do anything acrobatic (though I'm told I did a back flip at party back in college). I keep telling myself that if I ever have some spare class laying around I'm going to get some gymnastic training so I can pull off some better dance moves.

[Kobold_Love]

I can honestly say I have never danced before.

I have always been too shy about it, and it just never seems like my thing.

Supposedly people take hints of how good a mate is based on their dancing, so I fear I screwed myself there. :smallfrown:

[MethosH]

Uhull!!! Dance!
I dance everything, but that doesn't mean I can (or even if I should) cuz I really suck at dancing :smallbiggrin:

I once learned tango for a play... But I can't remember a thing from it.

The girl I'm current seeing on the other hand can dance almost anything! (I love to see her dancing :smalltongue:)

[Fredthefighter]

I don't dance much, but when I do, I end up doing one of the following things:

A bad version of the River Dance
A bad version of the Kossack Dance
Random jumping and arm flailing

That is the extent of my dance move repetoire.

[MethosH]

I don't dance much, but when I do, I end up doing one of the following things:

A bad version of the River Dance
A bad version of the Kossack Dance
Random jumping and arm flailing

That is the extent of my dance move repetoire.

How about a bad version of thriller?

[Fredthefighter]

How about a bad version of thriller?

I've never done that, but I have done a bad version of the Moonwalk. :smallbiggrin:
I want to do a bad version of Thriller now though. :smallbiggrin:

[MethosH]

I've never done that, but I have done a bad version of the Moonwalk. :smallbiggrin:
I want to do a bad version of Thriller now though. :smallbiggrin:

A bad version o Thriller looks a lot like this:
\\o o// \\o o// /o\

[Fredthefighter]

A bad version o Thriller looks a lot like this:
\\o o// \\o o// /o\

Hmmmmm, I can't really fathom what that looks like on an actual person.
Is a bad version of Thriller like the versions of Thriller you see in wedding videos? :smallconfused:

[MethosH]

Hmmmmm, I can't really fathom what that looks like on an actual person.
Is a bad version of Thriller like the versions of Thriller you see in wedding videos? :smallconfused:

Worse :smallbiggrin:

[Fredthefighter]

Worse :smallbiggrin:

That sounds awesome.

I just got the idea to dress up as Darth Vader and do a bad version of Thriller. :smallbiggrin: With Stormtrooper back-up dancers. :smallbiggrin:

[loopy]

Seen the Final Fantasy: Spirits Within (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi3wV8ebogQ) Thriller? :smallbiggrin:

[Zherog]

I'm a terrible dancer. Absolutely terrible.

My daughter, though, has spent the last 6 years taking various dance classes, including ballet, tap and jazz. Last year she was on a competitive team at her dance school, and they took first place/won gold in tap in each of the competitions they were in.

This year, she's giving up the team stuff to have more time for other activities, and changing schools so she can be with some of her friends from school.

My son has also taken ballet and tap for the past couple of years, but he's finally decided to give it up. My hope is that it pays off later in his life. :)

[Nameless]

I used to dance. I even did a show in the West End but then I quit.
I'm a horrible dancer now. :smalltongue:

[Dallas-Dakota]

*snip*
Great, now I'm imagining Zerog's avatar talking to his daughter( a reasonably light alcoholic fruity drink) with t Zherog bubbling whenever he speaks.

><

[Zherog]

http://forums.gleemax.com/images/smilies/roflmao.gif

[Coidzor]

I like a little bit of ballroom, wouldn't say no to other forms of partner dancing. Gotta find a place to start taking some lessons again, come to think of it...

Lousy ex broke up with me over physical contact issues (as in, for some reason related to her dad shooting himself in the head, or possibly hanging himself, she can't stand the touch of another human being) where we started seeing each other again partially because she needed a couple of guys to fill out the time slot she organized for her school's senior prom. So that place is kinda out, might not be though, I'll have to check on that actually...

[HellfireLover]

Scottish Country Dancing.

The first round - I mean first dance - will commence in fifteen minutes.

Please bring your own shin-pads and gum-shields, particularly if your partner is wearing heels.

This has been a Public Service Announcement by the HellfireLover Ceilidh Band. Causing severe injury since 1988! :smallbiggrin:

[Coidzor]

Scottish Country Dancing.

The first round - I mean first dance - will commence in fifteen minutes.

Please bring your own shin-pads and gum-shields, particularly if your partner is wearing heels.

This has been a Public Service Announcement by the HellfireLover Ceilidh Band. Causing severe injury since 1988! :smallbiggrin:

Kinky...

Also, Loopy, that video was balls creepy. *shudders* Now I remember why that movie failed so horribly. So horribly...

[MethosH]

That sounds awesome.

I just got the idea to dress up as Darth Vader and do a bad version of Thriller. :smallbiggrin: With Stormtrooper back-up dancers. :smallbiggrin:

All I can say is... LAAATTEEEEE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw0N7amYAyk) :smallbiggrin:

[Agamid]

i used to do ballet. did it for quite a while but have the wrong kind of feet for point shoes (as wasn't prepared to break my feet to fix this).
I'd love to get back into ballet, but non-competitive adult ballet, and classical ballet, tried contemporary ballet for a while and hated it. Plus i twisted my ankle in the first class (really you shouldn't be doing jumps in your first class anyway!)

i'm moving in with my cousin in a month and she is convinced that we're going to take up pole dancing together at the studio just around the corner from her apartment.

[RabbitHoleLost]

I'm an awful dancer, but I absolutely love to do it if I have a group of friends around me.
Or an incredibly sexy dance partner :smallwink:

[Thanatos 51-50]

I'm an awful dancer, but I absolutely love to do it if I have a group of friends around me.
Or an incredibly sexy dance partner :smallwink:
I volunteer to make you look like a proffessional in comparison.

[Pyrian]

i'm moving in with my cousin in a month and she is convinced that we're going to take up pole dancing together at the studio just around the corner from her apartment.:smallredface: Now there's a pleasant thought. :smallbiggrin:


I'm an awful dancer, but I absolutely love to do it if I have a group of friends around me.
Or an incredibly sexy dance partner :smallwink:We really do need to get you to one of the various costume balls I go to. ...Why do you have to live in, like, the very center of the 48? :smallconfused: There's one in practically every corner.

[Hell Puppi]

I used to bellydance...well I still do on occasion when there's free booze and a fire to dance around (and drums to dance to).
I've danced at clubs on occasion with people but it's just not the same without the coin belt. :smallsigh:

[Coidzor]

^: I'm going to have to go look for some psychotropic substances to shut my brain down in self defense now, ma'am.

Thank you very much.


Or an incredibly sexy dance partner :smallwink:

...Is there anyone who doesn't want one of those? :smalltongue:

[Raistlin1040]

All I can say is... LAAATTEEEEE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw0N7amYAyk) :smallbiggrin:

I nominate this for best thing ever of the day.

[Mr. Mud]

I nominate this for best thing ever of the day.

Followed closely by this. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIRQf0S3oD0)

[Cyrion]

When I was a teen I was a member of a Boy Scout indian dance team and competed in the hoop dance. Now I do a lot of ballroom and the occasional jig or reel. My wife and I are teaching dance on a caribbean cruise this Christmas. :smallbiggrin: She's also a champion (in the "she wins" context; she's technically still an All-Star) west coast swing dancer.

[loopy]

What, pray tell, is a hoop dance? :smallsmile:

[Faulty]

I really want to learn to dance, actually. I'm hoping my friend Eliza will take lessons with me when we get back to school in September.

[loopy]

I really want to learn to dance, actually. I'm hoping my friend Eliza will take lessons with me when we get back to school in September.

What kind of dancing? :smallsmile:

[Faulty]

What kind of dancing? :smallsmile:

Probably something more organized. Like ball room or tango or salsa or something. I'm not really sure, exactly. But I think I'd like to learn something with set steps to boost my confidence, before I could actually get out on a dance floor and dance.

[Em Blackleaf]

I'm a dancer. Let's see, I took ballet from ages three to six as well as tap for one of those years. I took jazz from seven to ten. When I was 11, 12 and 13, the only dancing I was apart of was as an extra in a few musicals. Now I'm on my school's advanced dance team- which is all kinds of dance. Jazz, modern, and hip-hop mostly. Modern is my favorite. I actually got some dance clothes for next year today. :smallsmile:

So, I've been on stage a lot. :smalltongue:

[loopy]

What exactly is modern dance? Would there be post-modern dance? :p

[Em Blackleaf]

What exactly is modern dance? Would there be post-modern dance? :p
Haha. :smalltongue: It's sort of like interpretive dance. Wikipedia can help me to describe it. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_dance)

[TheThan]

I wasn’t going to jump into this thread until I saw those star wars videos. They are both awesome and horrifying at the same time. Anyway they tried and failed to teach us both square dancing and country line dancing in high school. Basically it resulted in all guys screwing around for the entire class, while the girls took it more seriously.

[Xyk]

I try to dance but end up doing it rather poorly. It's not that I have typical white-boy rhythm, I'm a drummer, but I just have no idea what I'm doing. :smalleek:

[Raiser Blade]

Or an incredibly sexy dance partner :smallwink:

Rabbit's a nawty gurl!

Makes ALL the playground boys blush! :smallredface::smallredface::smallredface: :smallredface: :smallredface:



~______0

[loopy]

I try to dance but end up doing it rather poorly. It's not that I have typical white-boy rhythm, I'm a drummer, but I just have no idea what I'm doing. :smalleek:

If you already have basic rhythm, may I suggest you look into shuffling, the dance style mentioned in the OP? Its fairly easy to pick up, as dancing goes, and gives you something good to bust out when some dance or hiphop music comes on at the club/wedding reception/whatever.

[Coidzor]

I'm a dancer. Let's see, I took ballet from ages three to six as well as tap for one of those years. I took jazz from seven to ten. When I was 11, 12 and 13, the only dancing I was apart of was as an extra in a few musicals. Now I'm on my school's advanced dance team- which is all kinds of dance. Jazz, modern, and hip-hop mostly. Modern is my favorite. I actually got some dance clothes for next year today. :smallsmile:

So, I've been on stage a lot. :smalltongue:

...squick.

[Jalor]

Would there be post-modern dance? :p
I think it's when several people wearing black stand on stage, looking as aloof as possible and complaining about the mainstream whilst drinking Starbucks coffee.

[Coidzor]

And then they randomly rewind and fast forward the scene.

[Cyrion]

Hoop dancing is an American Indian dance in which the dancer manipulates hoops to make a variety of shapes- eagle wings, butterflies, bustles, ladders, etc. It looked something like this:

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LY_mCaqhxbE/SZO7_5FGEXI/AAAAAAAABU4/aA8unFpZe8A/s400/HoopDancing03.jpg&imgrefurl=http://ryanaruiz.blogspot.com/2009/02/hoop-dancing-at-heard-museum.html&usg=__PbR3ecD4rHK9ocJ_ynkybgwqa74=&h=400&w=266&sz=33&hl=en&start=29&um=1&tbnid=H0C4pAo5uNsUBM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=82&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhoop%2Bdancing%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den% 26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us%26sa%3DN%26start%3D20%26um%3D1

[loopy]

Hoop dancing is an American Indian dance in which the dancer manipulates hoops to make a variety of shapes- eagle wings, butterflies, bustles, ladders, etc. It looked something like this:

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LY_mCaqhxbE/SZO7_5FGEXI/AAAAAAAABU4/aA8unFpZe8A/s400/HoopDancing03.jpg&imgrefurl=http://ryanaruiz.blogspot.com/2009/02/hoop-dancing-at-heard-museum.html&usg=__PbR3ecD4rHK9ocJ_ynkybgwqa74=&h=400&w=266&sz=33&hl=en&start=29&um=1&tbnid=H0C4pAo5uNsUBM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=82&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhoop%2Bdancing%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den% 26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us%26sa%3DN%26start%3D20%26um%3D1

I see that and immediately think "Now... if those hoops were fluroescent, that would make some epic rave dancing."

I'm such a random. :smallsmile:

[Djinn_in_Tonic]

I do East Coast swing as well as the Lindy Hop, both of which are incredibly fun. I've also dabbled in Blues, the New York Hustle, Tango, Salsa, Waltz, and a touch of the Cha-Cha, but the Lindy draws me back every time.

Actually, for that matter, anyone within an hour or two of Philadelphia who might be interested in learning swing or blues should check out LaB (Lindy and Blues) (http://www.lindyandblues.com/). It's located in Rittenhouse Square, and has a swing/blues dance from 9-Midnight every Tuesday night, with a beginner lesson from 8-9. For $5 (and only $6 dollar parking at a nearby lot...with free admission for the driver if you bring a friend) it's a great time for the money. I'd really recommend it, even if you're not a dancer...swing is a lot of fun, and definitely worth learning.

And if anyone IS actually in that area and thinking of showing up, let me know! It would be interesting to actually meet some of you people. :smallbiggrin:

[OverdrivePrime]

What, pray tell, is a hoop dance? :smallsmile:
Videos linked below, the last one has a smidge of naughty artwork that YouTube's censors seem to be fine with.

I imagine he means traditional (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKMYpwUANKY) Hoop (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKMYpwUANKY) Dancing (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InfJyiJfzuA&feature=related) rather than the (um... probably not for work) modern Hoop Dancing (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQAbJERbWAY).



edit: blast! Ninjaed again!

[Jalor]

This Modern Hoop Dancing intrigues me, and I wish to know more.

[loopy]

I'm now surprised I haven't seen anyone do modern hoopdancing at a rave. :smallsmile:

[Jalor]

I'm now surprised I haven't seen anyone do modern hoopdancing at a rave. :smallsmile:

It's because they have yet to combine the glow stick and the hula hoop.

[Coidzor]

Indeed, all the've got is those small rings and those just really aren't the same.

And if you chain 'em together they have a tendency to come apart and take out some chick's eye.

To the drummer guy: Human Metronome.

[OverdrivePrime]

It's because they have yet to combine the glow stick and the hula hoop.

LED Hula Hoops are far superior anyway. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFmJOv-qBxg):smallsmile:

[loopy]

LED Hula Hoops are far superior anyway. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFmJOv-qBxg):smallsmile:

Must... get... shiny... hoop! :smallbiggrin:

[loopy]

So new information from the front! Apparently getting hit by a car does not significantly impede my dancing abilities, even though I apparently have a concussion and hurt knee, heh.

[OverdrivePrime]

So new information from the front! Apparently getting hit by a car does not significantly impede my dancing abilities, even though I apparently have a concussion and hurt knee, heh.

Why were you dancing with a car? :smallconfused:

Also - hope you heal up swiftly!

[loopy]

Why were you dancing with a car? :smallconfused:

Also - hope you heal up swiftly!

I wasn't. I was walking alongside a road when a car mounted the sidewalk. Was fun for the whole family.

Then I, naturally, went clubbing for the rest of the night. Well, after throwing up and bandaging myself up. :smalltongue:

[Dallas-Dakota]

So I victimized several girls today with my dancing, but off their own free will! Unknowingly!
I got dragged into the dancing while being in the crowd. >.>

The conclusion is, is that I don't really know many Folk music dances.
Only the circle/line one with the winding thingy with you holding the persons next to you with eahcothers pinky.

Like a pinky swear! But more awesome! And no swear!

[Jalor]

I wasn't. I was walking alongside a road when a car mounted the sidewalk. Was fun for the whole family.

Then I, naturally, went clubbing for the rest of the night. Well, after throwing up and bandaging myself up. :smalltongue:

The other day on F My Life I read one that went: "Today I learned that you don't have to be walking in the street to be hit by a car". Was that you, or do at least two people fail at driving?

[loopy]

The other day on F My Life I read one that went: "Today I learned that you don't have to be walking in the street to be hit by a car". Was that you, or do at least two people fail at driving?

Thaat wasn't me, mine happened less than 24 hours ago. My knee is screwed, lol.