Does Anyone Else HATE this as much as I do?!?

Jonezie

Jonezie

Cathlete
As I posted to the forum last week, I went to a wedding this weekend. The 417th wedding I've been to in the last 5 years. This one was for the 6'3"-professional-beach-volleyball-playing niece. Who is amazingly comfortable with her body and has dance moves like I've never seen. Needless to say, dancing was infused into every minute of her 7 hour wedding reception. UGH! I HATE dancing!!! I am not exaggerating when I say I don't know how to move like that. Maybe it's because I've had a weight problem most of my life. Or was raised in a very inhibited family. But I just dread it. It's worse than a gyno exam.

I'm planning on taking dance lessons soon...but it will be more ballroom/Lord of the Dance moves than freestyle. PS...The reason I love workout DVD's like Cathe's so much is because of the cueing. The same with kickboxing classes...I'm great as long as the instructor is calling out the moves. But when the freestyle round comes up...I am lost.

Does anyone else HATE freestyle dancing this much? Or is anyone else a reformed dance hater? Maybe you were able to take lessons? Or lost weight and became more coordinated and comfortable with your body? Or just took to drinking 14 margaritas before heading to the dance floor?

I feel like the biggest stick in the mud but I just can't relax enough to enjoy it. I've tried, believe me. But I don't even think Valium chased with four Kahluas would work for me (not that I've tried).

Any tips for looking calm, cool and collected when the thought of dancing makes me want to curl up into a fetal position?

Help!

:) Jonezie
 
Last edited:
I started taking dance lessons 5 years ago, in my late 30s. I love it. I am addicted to it. I can now do 16 different dances to varying degrees of difficulty. Thing is, I never knew I could dance. I have some background in music, so I thought I could possibly do it....who knew I would be good at it!!!

I do ballroom, latin, and swing dancing. It is so much fun. I did take private lessons with a pro for a couple of years, but had to stop for financial reasons. I miss it. It's a great way to meet people, and it is wonderful exercise. It is much, much harder than it looks.

Get out there and try it. You never know, you might find an untapped talent.
 
yeah, I pretty much look like I'm having a seizure if I try to dance! You're not alone! I only dance in the privacy of my own home - but even then the baby laughs at me and my big girls will soon learn just how uncool their mom really is!
:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p
 
To me that sounds like the best wedding ever! I love to dance and it is a major part of my cardio routine; just this morning I danced freestyle for an hour and burned 641 calories -sometimes I get up to 750 if I incorporate some plyo. Low impact, works out all the kinks and is just so much fun! I hate weddings that don't have dancing! Even at my biggest -110lbs more than now - I shook it on the dance floor every chance I got!
 
Last edited:
I am not a good dancer by any stretch of the imagination! I do love music, though! When it starts, I can't help but tap my feet, then my shoulders start to go and my head starts bobbing and before I know it, I'm out there (with or without a partner) dancing up a storm! For freestyle dance, all it takes is your favorite music and a teeny bit of rhythm! I've never been afraid of what other people thought when it came to the expression of my love of music! There's really nothing you can do, but get out there and do it and not worry about anything or anyone else! I lose myself in it! It's difficult to explain, but it's just something you do!
 
Right with you. It's on that list of things I've come to accept about myself. Luckily I only have about one wedding per year.

Also what I've noticed is yes, all my confident dancing friends are 'faced when they're out on the floor. I don't drink (another thing that took many years to figure out I just don't like doing and don't have to do despite everyone else insisting there's something wrong with me if I don't).

If I had the money I might take lessons though. Learning different dances, like you said, i.e. specific moves could be fun I think. Considering the number of weddings you have, it might be a worthy investment.

But in short, yes. YES. :D
 
Jonezie - I feel the SAME way about dancing! I was an ice dancer, cheerleader, and even in a dance group that did the Irish type dancing and I still freak out at the idea of "freestyling". Honestly, the only way to get me out there is to get me really smashed. Then I'm a dancing fool. ;) That has only happened on a few, very few occasions though. I prefer real choreography. I could probably freestyle if it was all "rehearsed" earlier, which I guess would kind of negate the whole "freestyle" concept, but it's the only way I could do it with any flare. I would LOVE to take ball room lessons and maybe some hip hop too. I know I would SUCK at the hip hop, but it might make me crawl out of my shell a little eventuallyl. ;)

p.s. 99.98888% of people "freestyling" look far from professional - with a good percentage of them literally looking like dancing "fools". I try to remind myself that when I go out there - it's definitely not "Dancing with the Stars". Very few actually have "moves". I find the ones that look the best are the ones who have a little dance training - i.e. ballroom etc...
 
Last edited:
Jonezie, seven hours, really??! :D It's all about the hips, baby. Well, the 'ritas, too. Honestly though, I had a couple of roommates in college teach me a move called "the cowboy" and it's just all about the hips and once you get that you can turn it into a lot of things. And yes, maybe I look like a moron too, but it feels pretty good. :D

Hope you had a good trip, otherwise!
 
I can't follow instructors to save my life, and have never done a single Cathe cardio workout, but nothing makes me happier than free-style dancing. I even dance on the TM at the gym to some extent. I envy those of you who can do Cathe's step workouts, but I swear I'm fairly graceful on the dance floor at weddings. I guess it's just different strokes for different folks.

I think I would be willing to follow instruction long enough to do the Thriller dance, though. I feel really motivated to learn it. Looks like such fun!
 
Liann said:
p.s. 99.98888% of people "freestyling" look like total MORONS. I try to tell myself that when I go out there. Very few actually have "moves". /QUOTE]


Hey, DH and I grew up during the John Travolta disco era....we have some pretty nifty moves if you ask me. ;)


john-travolta-saturday-night-fever.jpg
Click to expand...
 
fit44 said:
Liann said:
p.s. 99.98888% of people "freestyling" look like total MORONS. I try to tell myself that when I go out there. Very few actually have "moves". /QUOTE]


Hey, DH and I grew up during the John Travolta disco era....we have some pretty nifty moves if you ask me. ;)


john-travolta-saturday-night-fever.jpg
Click to expand...

Lol, you quoted me before I edited it! I thought it was a little too harsh although at most of the weddings and Christmas parties I have been at, it is SO true! ;) ITA the disco era had some serious moves! ;) That's the big difference between dance now and dance in the past. It seems like there were more actually "moves" and dances that people all knew and did. Now, people just get out there and shift from leg to leg (I like to call this the wedgie shuffle) maybe putting an arm up in the air while holding a wine glass in the other hand and they call that dancing. ;) Darn, all this dance talk is making me want to go out and sign up for ballroom lessons, which of course I can't because no one wants to see a whale dance! :(
Click to expand...
 
I don't see the big deal - either enjoy it and do it, or if you don't want to, don't. I'm sure there were other things to do besides dance - like watch everyone else dance.

We all have different gifts/talents, I'm not sure I would ever use the word 'hate' towards an activity just because it's not my thing.

Hate is a word I reserve for truly awful things like beets and anchovies. ;)
 
Liann said:
fit44 said:
Lol, you quoted me before I edited it! I thought it was a little too harsh although at most of the weddings and Christmas parties I have been at, it is SO true! ;) ITA the disco era had some serious moves! ;)
Click to expand...

I was joking about the moves. I'm sure we do look like morons, but we are have a lot of fun! :D
I thought I better add this...I'm not offended by the remark Liann. I realize we look silly, but I don't care what other people think. We are out there having a good time. I don't feel the need for professional dance lessons just so I can get out on a dance floor with my friends & family at a wedding.
My DH's boss was video taped singing the song "Feelings" drunk! Now that's funny! LOL
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Liann said:
fit44 said:
;) Darn, all this dance talk is making me want to go out and sign up for ballroom lessons, which of course I can't because no one wants to see a whale dance! :(
Click to expand...

Liann, that is EXACTLY how I feel. Like a whale. Except without the impending baby. Even when I am at my thinnest, I still feel like an overweight person. And I think, at least for me, I move more awkwardly and clumsily when I'm heavier (maybe I'm the only one who feels this way). But I was raised in a very critical home...VERY...and like it or not, I grew up feeling like "If the people who love me most are this critical and judgmental...what must the people who don't even know me think?"

cindi1 said:
I don't see the big deal - either enjoy it and do it, or if you don't want to, don't. I'm sure there were other things to do besides dance - like watch everyone else dance.

We all have different gifts/talents, I'm not sure I would ever use the word 'hate' towards an activity just because it's not my thing.

Hate is a word I reserve for truly awful things like beets and anchovies. ;)
Click to expand...

Cindi...there was NOTHING else to do but dance. I tried to escape and fake a hip injury....but people kept pulling me back in. I looked RI-diculous sitting there when literally everyone else was dancing a foot away from me. And I don't use the word 'hate' often, either. But, in this case, it applies.

PS...I think being highly intoxicated is the only way to go.

PSS...This was literally the last person in my extended family to get married...until my 3-year-old nephew comes of age. So that gives me, what...15 or more years to practice?

Thanks for all the responses!

:)Jonezie
Click to expand...
 
Jonezie said:
But I just dread it. It's worse than a gyno exam.

Any tips for looking calm, cool and collected when the thought of dancing makes me want to curl up into a fetal position?
Click to expand...

Wow. Really, that bad? How about just showing up with a camera and video taping them instead of being in front of the camera? That way you don't have to dance.
 
RapidBreath said:
Wow. Really, that bad? How about just showing up with a camera and video taping them instead of being in front of the camera? That way you don't have to dance.
Click to expand...

RapidBreath...that's actually not a bad idea!!! In fact, I could even replay it later and try to learn some of the moves. That is GENIUS...thanks!

:) Jonezie
 
Jonezie said:
RapidBreath...that's actually not a bad idea!!! In fact, I could even replay it later and try to learn some of the moves. That is GENIUS...thanks!

:) Jonezie
Click to expand...

Most likely you will play it back and realize that you don't want to emulate ANY of those moves! :eek:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top