Evolution of Dance
As per normal, I was bored, but today I was browsing comedy videos on youtube. I had seen this video quite a while ago, I believe it’s over a year old by this point, but upon watching it again I remembered how amusing it was and just had to post it. While none of this is really the type of dancing I do, it’s great to watch, and the guy is pretty good! And in some ways, it reminds me why I dance the way I do…
The Evolution of Dance
www.evolutionofdance.com
I guess seeing this reminds you that there are new, modern forms of dancing beyond the more traditional swing, ballroom, and salsa partner dancing. But it’s easy to ignore the existence of some of these forms. To me, the music doesn’t make me get out of my seat and want to dance. Of course, being raised on classical music, I’d listen to Mozart over rap and pop any day. A lot of forms of “modern” dancing to me seem to require very little skill… anyone can put their arms in the air and shake the bodies back and forth, rubbing against other people in the process. But knowing the steps, having the ability to communicate through the tension in your arms, being able to perform wild moves completely spontaneously… that requires a skill many of the “club dancers” will never know.
I tell people sometimes, jokingly, that they should come do some “real dancing” at Swing events… but to people accustomed to the modern “mosh pit” dance styles, they aren’t always interested. It’s really quite sad that a lot of the great partner dances have been turned into something obscure, obsolete, and “old-fashioned”. Upon telling people that I enjoy ballroom dancing, I often get a weird look… the skill, grace, and beauty of these dances is lost to them. I often tell my male friends that they should come to a dance with me, but it is common for guys to have this notion that “dancing is for girls” and “guys don’t dance”. It’s sad, really. They never want to see what they may be missing out on, just because they believe that saying “Yes, I dance” will immediately give the impression that they are not “manly” enough. Dancing is a sport, it requires athletic skill and ability that competes with many sports out there. Maybe someday more people will see the more traditional partner dances as an enjoyable alternative to rap music, mosh pits, and “booty dancing.” Until then, I feel sorry for all the fun they are missing out on! The result of the evolution of dance isn’t a dance I will ever be interested in dancing… I will always prefer the thrill of swing, the grace of ballroom, and the feel of salsa.
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