Shall we dance?

[Keroin]

I'm curious about people's attitudes toward dancing and singing. Not professionally but of the everyday variety.

I've noticed, in my travels, that most cultures embrace singing as a sort of social activity. In my local grocery store, you will often find folks singing along to the radio, loudly. Even ten year old boys will belt out a tune on the spur of the moment. I've heard road crews singing in the Mexican desert and construction workers singing in the Bahamas.

But in Western civilization, we seem to view singing as something you must be very good at before you do it, and even then it should only be done in specific times and places.

Dancing is something else most cultures enjoy. Males and females alike. Whereas in Western culture dancing seems to be viewed as something only females should enjoy and be good at. The males here are very macho and yet dancing skill is highly regarded.

Me, I'm a lousy singer but I love it. I'll happily inflict my lack of skill on the ear drums of others. Dancing I'm good at. Any excuse to cut a rug and I'm there. Both activities make me feel happy.

Do you sing? Do you dance? Where, when and under what circumstances? And if not, why not?

 

[Sir_Winston54]

I enjoy singing, and used to be fairly decent at it (according to music teachers and choir directors) until the tobacco jones roughened up my tone, and age dampened my range and pitch, but I'm rather self-conscious about doing it where anyone else can hear me unless I've had a couple of healthy bourbons

As far as dancing... meh. I'll slow dance - the old box-step (with its variations) is my peak of skills - but as far as "fast dancing" goes, I quit learning the new stuff when "The Swim" was popular. (Look it up.) Slow dancing, however, is a nice way to spend three or four minutes close to someone, moving with them, smelling her hair... Can't beat it for pre-foreplay

 

[myinnerslut]

i love them both!

i have been dancing and singing for years. i took lessons in both. I was taking dance classes as recently as last year.

all of my friends know that im the first to start dancing to anything, no matter where i am, be it commercials, the radio, or the music playing over the loudspeaker in the shopping mall.

 

[ecstaticsub]

I dance at weddings. I love seeing all the guests from little kids to the great-grandparents dancing to all kinds of music. It's my favoorite part of a wedding.

The only time I tend to sing is in my car by myself to whatever music is playing. I also used to sing my babies to sleep, mostly Beatles songs.

 

[graceanne]

I sing routinely. My family routinely bursts into what we call 'random bursts of singing'. It can be very alarming to people who aren't used to it, cause all it takes is someone saying something that reminds someone of a song and that person will start singing it and everyone else will stop mid sentence to sing along (assuming they know the lyrics) and then when it's done take up the conversation like the singing never happened.

The first time K met my family he thought we were all off our rockers. But my dad's side of the family is very spontaneous that way, and always looking for a good laugh or a good song.

I sing every day. Sometimes to the radio, sometimes without. By the time my 7 year old was 5 she knew all the words to Jesus take the Wheel and How Do I live and multiple church songs (not just Jesus loves me, but ones like Shout to the Lord and Amazing Grace and Wade in the Water) and Think of Me (from Phantom of the Opera).

I can memorize a song after hearing it just a few times, and so I know the songs from numerous musicals and disney movies. I also very rarely forget a song, so once I've learned it it's learned. I sing songs that were taught to me in Kindergarten. K says I'm the queen of stupid songs. Every time he think's he's heard them all, I remember another one. lol

As for dancing, I love to dance, but I only do in public if I've been drinking. I dance at home with my kids routinely, and they'll dance anywhere there is music.

 

[ZRT]

Heh. One of my fondest memories was working with a Mexican buddy down on the border. Between us we had enough Spanglish to communicate the important messages like 'Look out!' 'Sorry!' and the all-important 'Okay!', usually said after we'd clobbered each other with heavy freight in the midst of a frenetic unload.

I don't remember the lyrics now, at all, but the song he taught me had something to do with drinking, dancing, and senoritas. And he'd chorus the old Irish drinking song with me...

Sob and turn away, run ye back to the light of day.
Sob and hope and pray, all ye need are the gentle fae.

Yeah, I'm a horrendous singer and utterly unabashed about it.

As for dancing, no rhythm whatsoever. At all. So no real fun to it for me. I'll do some slow dancing, but nothing energetic.

 

[Keroin]

I enjoy singing, and used to be fairly decent at it (according to music teachers and choir directors) until the tobacco jones roughened up my tone, and age dampened my range and pitch, but I'm rather self-conscious about doing it where anyone else can hear me unless I've had a couple of healthy bourbons

As far as dancing... meh. I'll slow dance - the old box-step (with its variations) is my peak of skills - but as far as "fast dancing" goes, I quit learning the new stuff when "The Swim" was popular. (Look it up.) Slow dancing, however, is a nice way to spend three or four minutes close to someone, moving with them, smelling her hair... Can't beat it for pre-foreplay

Oh please, you think I don't know how to do The Swim? Me? Mermaid girl? LOL.

A few days ago, in the store, Shake Your Tail Feather came on the radio and me, three local ladies, and one small child had and impromptu dance party. Quite hilarious.

As for slow dancing, yes, very nice. But I still count the tango as the sexiest dance on the planet. It's a very BDSM dance, if you ask me. "Learn Tango in Argentina" is on my life long "To Do" list. I just wish more Western males enjoyed dancing and weren't so self-conscious. In Mexico, I never have trouble finding a partner, in Canada or the US it's like pulling teeth.

Added: My alter ego is known in certain circles as "Sheba - Dancing Queen of the Desert"

 

[Keroin]

I sing routinely. My family routinely bursts into what we call 'random bursts of singing'. It can be very alarming to people who aren't used to it, cause all it takes is someone saying something that reminds someone of a song and that person will start singing it and everyone else will stop mid sentence to sing along (assuming they know the lyrics) and then when it's done take up the conversation like the singing never happened.

The first time K met my family he thought we were all off our rockers. But my dad's side of the family is very spontaneous that way, and always looking for a good laugh or a good song.

I sing every day. Sometimes to the radio, sometimes without. By the time my 7 year old was 5 she knew all the words to Jesus take the Wheel and How Do I live and multiple church songs (not just Jesus loves me, but ones like Shout to the Lord and Amazing Grace and Wade in the Water) and Think of Me (from Phantom of the Opera).

I can memorize a song after hearing it just a few times, and so I know the songs from numerous musicals and disney movies. I also very rarely forget a song, so once I've learned it it's learned. I sing songs that were taught to me in Kindergarten. K says I'm the queen of stupid songs. Every time he think's he's heard them all, I remember another one. lol

As for dancing, I love to dance, but I only do in public if I've been drinking. I dance at home with my kids routinely, and they'll dance anywhere there is music.

Love the random outbursts of singing! When I was in highschool, my best friend and I had a long bus ride home from the mall on Dec 23rd. It was late, dark and cold and you could tell everyone on the bus was exhausted from shopping and the stress of the holidays. The two of us started singing Xmas carols and it didn't take long before the whole bus joined in. It was so cool to see everyone's faces come alive and to leave to applause and laughter.

Heh. One of my fondest memories was working with a Mexican buddy down on the border. Between us we had enough Spanglish to communicate the important messages like 'Look out!' 'Sorry!' and the all-important 'Okay!', usually said after we'd clobbered each other with heavy freight in the midst of a frenetic unload.

I don't remember the lyrics now, at all, but the song he taught me had something to do with drinking, dancing, and senoritas. And he'd chorus the old Irish drinking song with me...

Sob and turn away, run ye back to the light of day.
Sob and hope and pray, all ye need are the gentle fae.

Yeah, I'm a horrendous singer and utterly unabashed about it.

As for dancing, no rhythm whatsoever. At all. So no real fun to it for me. I'll do some slow dancing, but nothing energetic.

Mexicans are the coolest in the dancing and singing department. And the women, man, they can out-dance me any day. Their parties don't even get warmed up until midnight and then they go non-stop until daylight...in high heels! Crazy. And the men are so suave in their jeans and cowboy boots.

Ah, must go back soon.

 

[Sir_Winston54]

But I still count the tango as the sexiest dance on the planet. It's a very BDSM dance, if you ask me. "Learn Tango in Argentina" is on my life long "To Do" list.

I'd love to have learned the tango years ago when I had the body for it, and *some* of the rhythm. Unfortunately, the way my body has turned out at this point in my life, a tango partner would have to bend in thirty-seven different directions (23 of them impossible to anyone who's not a Chinese acrobat or a member of Cirque du Soleil) to accommodate my girth and various protuberances. And no, I'm *not* referring to a protuberance in the groin area, though given the sexiness of a tango, one might need to add that in, too.

 

[myinnerslut]

i started swing dancing with my father when i was little. for my bat mitzvah, we opted to do a swing dance instead of the traditional father daughter dance. we hadnt told anybody ahead of time, but it was worth it to see the looks on everyones faces. especially when we started getting into the fancy stuff. lifts, and combos, and all the acrobatics involved.

we did more of the lifts when i was a bit smaller and his back was a bit better, but we still do a fairly impressive one in which he lifts me by the waist and my legs go up together over my head. first im lifted to his right, then without being set on the ground swing out and repeat on his left, followed by him spinning in a circle while i am almost horizontal at his waist level before being set back on the ground. all of this with a fluent in-dance beginning and going straight back into the floor work from the end. (sorry if the description is confusing, i cant think of the right words)

i've taught a few friends at school how to do the lift, but its not the same because i have to lead to teach.

i love dancing with my dad.

 

[YourCaptor]

When I was about 8 I was in a church choir, and sang a lot in kindergarten too.

But since then my voice has lost flexibility. Depend and went a bit monotone, not good for singing.

Flailing my limbs about aka dancing, occurs occasionally when I'm totally engulfed in good music. Its more of a grove then dancing.

I love to watch seductive dances though. Like belly dancing.

I once got a private show, OMG, I was literally drooling half comatose.

 

[rida]

Dancing and singing I just love it!

More often than not I'll start sing along and tap my foot in rhythm with the BGM while grocery shopping

Alas I am a totally out of tune singer. Often I just burst out in random songs and my girls start complaining while Hubby rolls his eyes What I miss the most by living here is the radio. They only have a couple of channels and not much music going on there, unless is J-pop and I just have not developed a taste for it yet (although I do have few Japanese songs I love).

As for dancing, I'm not too bad but is all "free form". It has been too long since I had the chance to spend a whole night doing it. Partnered dancing such as waltzer or others where I have to let the man lead? I've been told I'm heavier than a truck

Regarding the social acceptance of it all. It seems that Latin and Southern cultures are more prone to singing and dancing spontaneity. Cannot think of a good reason for it thou, unless I relate it with the difference in level of "passion" .

 

[Keroin]

i started swing dancing with my father when i was little. for my bat mitzvah, we opted to do a swing dance instead of the traditional father daughter dance. we hadnt told anybody ahead of time, but it was worth it to see the looks on everyones faces. especially when we started getting into the fancy stuff. lifts, and combos, and all the acrobatics involved.

we did more of the lifts when i was a bit smaller and his back was a bit better, but we still do a fairly impressive one in which he lifts me by the waist and my legs go up together over my head. first im lifted to his right, then without being set on the ground swing out and repeat on his left, followed by him spinning in a circle while i am almost horizontal at his waist level before being set back on the ground. all of this with a fluent in-dance beginning and going straight back into the floor work from the end. (sorry if the description is confusing, i cant think of the right words)

i've taught a few friends at school how to do the lift, but its not the same because i have to lead to teach.

i love dancing with my dad.

That's great! I bet everyone was surprised.

Swing dancing is a hoot. You do need a strong partner though and one you can trust. I had a partner who used to flip me around like nothing, how fun!

I bet your dad loves dancing with you, too

Dancing and singing I just love it!

More often than not I'll start sing along and tap my foot in rhythm with the BGM while grocery shopping

Alas I am a totally out of tune singer. Often I just burst out in random songs and my girls start complaining while Hubby rolls his eyes What I miss the most by living here is the radio. They only have a couple of channels and not much music going on there, unless is J-pop and I just have not developed a taste for it yet (although I do have few Japanese songs I love).

As for dancing, I'm not too bad but is all "free form". It has been too long since I had the chance to spend a whole night doing it. Partnered dancing such as waltzer or others where I have to let the man lead? I've been told I'm heavier than a truck

Regarding the social acceptance of it all. It seems that Latin and Southern cultures are more prone to singing and dancing spontaneity. Cannot think of a good reason for it thou, unless I relate it with the difference in level of "passion" .

Well, you're in the right country if you love to sing. Can't recall how many times I, as the lone gaijin in my city, would be pulled up to the stage to sing one of the six English songs on the menu. If I never have to sing "New York, New York" ever again, I'll be just fine with that. LOL.

I'm really not sure why singing and dancing are considered so feminine in Western culture? Do our men not realize how easy it is to impress a woman if you can sweep her off her feet on the dance floor? Is it really about the passion or what? I can't figure it.

Funny, I just remembered this Canadian folk song that I love, called "The Log Driver's Waltz". Here's the first bit...

"If you should ask any girl from the parish around
What pleases her most from her head to her toes,
She'll say - I'm not sure that it's business of yours,
But I do like to waltz with a log driver.

For he goes birling down a-down the white water;
That's where the log driver learns to step lightly.
It's birling down, a-down white water;
A log driver's waltz pleases girls completely."

 

[satindesire]

I'd love to have learned the tango years ago when I had the body for it, and *some* of the rhythm. Unfortunately, the way my body has turned out at this point in my life, a tango partner would have to bend in thirty-seven different directions (23 of them impossible to anyone who's not a Chinese acrobat or a member of Cirque du Soleil) to accommodate my girth and various protuberances. And no, I'm *not* referring to a protuberance in the groin area, though given the sexiness of a tango, one might need to add that in, too.

I lawled!!

 

[Keroin]

I lawled!!

What are you doing up so late?


Yeah, I had a good chuckle at that line, too.

Sing and dance much? (You do have a handy, built-in partner these days).

 

[BiaTcHiNFiRe]

Dancing and singing is a way of showing up. At least for me it is. Some people are very spontaneous, they just do it. I admire them for that. I can't do that tho.

I might sing on public sometimes, when I must. You could never see me dance tho. In the 16 years I was with my ex I never felt that he like the way I dance, so I just stoped doing it for good, on public. I dance when I am alone, but theres no way you could make me dance infront of you. Just think about it makes me feel so shit, so small. No way I would do it. If you ask me for a dance, I would most likely just start crying.

Some slow body on body dance maybe, with my A., but thats it.

 

[kiss_of_sin]

Dancing and singing I just love it!

More often than not I'll start sing along and tap my foot in rhythm with the BGM while grocery shopping

Alas I am a totally out of tune singer. Often I just burst out in random songs and my girls start complaining while Hubby rolls his eyes What I miss the most by living here is the radio. They only have a couple of channels and not much music going on there, unless is J-pop and I just have not developed a taste for it yet (although I do have few Japanese songs I love).

As for dancing, I'm not too bad but is all "free form". It has been too long since I had the chance to spend a whole night doing it. Partnered dancing such as waltzer or others where I have to let the man lead? I've been told I'm heavier than a truck

Regarding the social acceptance of it all. It seems that Latin and Southern cultures are more prone to singing and dancing spontaneity. Cannot think of a good reason for it thou, unless I relate it with the difference in level of "passion" .

I also live in japan, well stationed there, and we have this great japanese live band who plays pretty cool j-pop and even plays our songs...

 

[RhymeSmith]

Love to sing. Do it all the time, except when it might interfere with critical activity. Came from a family where everybody sang. In church, in the car, in the shower, at work, pretty much anywhere. My kids all sing, at one time or another, but not their mama.

Love to dance. Didn't do so much as a youth, but Mom, Dad, Aunts & Uncles all danced, just about anywhere except for church. We were Baptist! I never had lessons until 'way after it would have been a social advantage. Lost out on a lot of fun because of that.

 

[Sir_Winston54]

I'd love to have learned the tango years ago when I had the body for it, and *some* of the rhythm. Unfortunately, the way my body has turned out at this point in my life, a tango partner would have to bend in thirty-seven different directions (23 of them impossible to anyone who's not a Chinese acrobat or a member of Cirque du Soleil) to accommodate my girth and various protuberances. And no, I'm *not* referring to a protuberance in the groin area, though given the sexiness of a tango, one might need to add that in, too.

I lawled!!

What are you doing up so late?


Yeah, I had a good chuckle at that line, too.

Sing and dance much? (You do have a handy, built-in partner these days).

Dang it, I thought the funny line was the one about 23 impossible directions to bend.

 

[myinnerslut]

Dang it, I thought the funny line was the one about 23 impossible directions to bend.

my favorite part was the cirque de soliel member

 

[ownedsubgal]

singing i do very rarely, like when i'm home alone and a song i love starts playing on the radio or ipod...or when i'm with Daddy and i'm just very, very happy. i can't carry a tune worth a darn, so that he tolerates it ever is wonderful, lol.

dancing i only do occasionally when home alone doing chores (esp. if i want to try to "learn" a move i saw in a video or something), or when we go out to dance and i've had a few drinks. i have to be at least tipsy in order to do any public dancing at all, else i would never have the nerve.

 

[satindesire]

What are you doing up so late?


Yeah, I had a good chuckle at that line, too.

Sing and dance much? (You do have a handy, built-in partner these days).

Heartburn.

I wake up about 5-6 times a night now for various reasons. This is just one of the times where I can't go back to sleep til I can lie down again without my throat catching fire.

I sing like someone's banging a bag of cats on the wall, but I love it and do it all the time. I dance like no one's watching and at totally random times for no reason at all.

 

[rinka]

In Sweden singing is a normal part of a party. Especially weddings, bigger birthday dinners, crawfish parties or any kind of sit-down like that. There are often a little leaflet with songs at the tables, and everyone sings along whether they're good at it or not. Alcohol makes the singing louder... and louder...

And after dinner there's hopefully dancing too.

I love both.

 

[DVS]

I sing routinely. My family routinely bursts into what we call 'random bursts of singing'. It can be very alarming to people who aren't used to it, cause all it takes is someone saying something that reminds someone of a song and that person will start singing it and everyone else will stop mid sentence to sing along (assuming they know the lyrics) and then when it's done take up the conversation like the singing never happened.

The first time K met my family he thought we were all off our rockers. But my dad's side of the family is very spontaneous that way, and always looking for a good laugh or a good song.

I sing every day. Sometimes to the radio, sometimes without. By the time my 7 year old was 5 she knew all the words to Jesus take the Wheel and How Do I live and multiple church songs (not just Jesus loves me, but ones like Shout to the Lord and Amazing Grace and Wade in the Water) and Think of Me (from Phantom of the Opera).

I can memorize a song after hearing it just a few times, and so I know the songs from numerous musicals and disney movies. I also very rarely forget a song, so once I've learned it it's learned. I sing songs that were taught to me in Kindergarten. K says I'm the queen of stupid songs. Every time he think's he's heard them all, I remember another one. lol

As for dancing, I love to dance, but I only do in public if I've been drinking. I dance at home with my kids routinely, and they'll dance anywhere there is music.

The bolded text above...that's simply wonderful! My sister and I will do that when we're together, but alone, it's not as easy. We've done it since childhood.

Yes, we can carry a tune, even without a bucket, but it's just something we've done all our lives. But, to have the whole family join in...that's great stuff. My mother and father would just sit there and smile at us, but they would never think of joining in. And, my other sisters...well, you couldn't get them do do much, unless they were in charge.

I just had to tell you, I think that's great that a family will do something like that. I hope you're proud of your family, for being how they are. Other people should take an example of this. Be fun! Be spontaneous! Be outspoken! Be an extrovert! Be a little weird, laugh about it and love it! It's fun!

 

[Keroin]

Be fun! Be spontaneous! Be outspoken! Be an extrovert! Be a little weird, laugh about it and love it! It's fun!

*APPLAUDS*

Yes, yes, and yes!!!!