Who can dance?

[druid]

I have a theory, confirmed only by a handful of folks I know, that writers are not naturally gifted dancers. They talk well, they write well, and evidently they cook, eat, and drink well also. But can they dance? Even those who write about dancing, are they any good at it? Did Astaire or Kelly write?

My theory is two-part: (1) all the talent goes to the head, eyes, and mouth box (witness the nattering in this forum), and the rest of the body is left out; and (2) many writers are natural introverts, and only extroverts are uninhibited enough to shake, rattle, and roll in a room full of raving loonies.

This doesn't mean they hate dancing. I love to watch good dancers, but I'm no good at it myself.

Whaddya think?

[matt]

Hate dancing, can't dance, have never wanted to dance, will probably refuse to dance at my own wedding...


But I am good at several sports (Aussie Rules footy, cricket, tennis). How does that fit into the theory?

Matt

[Thequietone]

I am the original embarrassing guy dancing at the wedding reception.

I may not dance well to you but I am enjoying myself whilst you cling to the wall.


I also like ballet and modern dance so i can appreciate movement.

Having muddied the waters I shall move on.

Paul

[alexwein]

I love to write, write for a living, and I love to dance and dance rather well, if I must say so myself. Other people say so too, so it must be true.

[dafu]

Different thoughts for different folks.

Dave

[xiamenese]

I cannot dance. In my last year at Cambridge, I suddenly lost my inhibitions and went in for uncontrolled movements ... not as bad as wotsisname in "4 Weddings ..." but it only lasted a few months. But even then if you tried to get me in anything like a two-step, leave alone anything more complex, I would absolutely freeze on the dance floor and go into a state of panic.

The only thing I can think of that I really do as badly as I dance is sing. My daughter confessed to me when she was about 18 that when she was little the reason she had liked me to sing a song to her every night when she went to bed was that it was so boring and monotonous that it sent her to sleep quickly! Now I refuse to embarrass not only myself, but also the people I'm with ... and the Chinese love Karaoke!

Mark

[antony]

Never tried formal dancing, but in my younger days I used to dance in clubs for hours on end. No idea if I was objectively 'good', but I first met at least three then-girlfriends on the dance floor, so I can't have been too bad

[Sebbi]

So far, it seems, your thoery has been mostly confirmed true.

I can dance (vaguely - I wouldn't say I'm great at it, but what-the-hey; more of a physical theatre person really), however, I don't see myself as a "writer" as such. A poet maybe, but within that I'd happily call myself a songwriter or performance poet - note the emphasis on performance for both.

I do see where you're coming from. I think dancing uses a very different part of the brain to writing. For certain kinds of writing, i can see how there's some crossover - I mean, spontanious movement and spontanious writing, for example.

But yeah - textual thought and kinetic thought. Different ball-games.

[Wock]

I saw this and thought WOW

If I was younger, slimmer, stronger, agile, and more dedicated to dancing, I might not get hurt too bad trying this.

This display of upper body strength and balance is amazing to say the least. Watch this short video and you will see why I am saying WOW.

http://www.phoenixlords.com/videos/breakdance.php

But no I don't dance. (Only slow dance with my wife)

[Matthew Graybosch]

I dance well with a weapon in my hands.

[Jaysen]

I have no illusion to my dancing prowess. There is normally a circle of observers gathered and all enjoying the show. Once the laughing dies down and the paramedics arrive my wife crawls our from under a table and offers to compensate for any damage done. It only takes a few weeks for her to speak to me again.

[Juddbert]

Imagine Vic-k's avatar hurtling pellmell into the lambada... a frenzied and altogether ridiculous sequence of gyrations utterly devoid of elegance, or indeed reason. Well, that's me attempting to waltz.

[Wock]

This is how I dance.

[Juddbert]

This is how I dance.

You crap on your partner??

[Wock]

You crap on your partner??

That is how we roll down here in the south.

I dedicate this video to this thread. I think it would fit accordingly.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qW0Edq1KqI

lol