These days you’ll find parents and children, friends, colleagues with their bosses, couples, even strangers, getting together in their neighbourhood or office dance class — sprouting up all over India — to twirl their way into happiness, health or both. Various dance apps like Go Dance, Heartdancer, Pocket Salsa etc., have been launched over the last few years to help people shake a leg and drop their inhibitions.
A recent study reveals that a man’s ability to dance well plays an important role in choosing a quality mate. Here are dance moves that impress ladies.
If naturalist Charles Darwin walked into a Mumbai club, he’d be wooing the ladies with his boogie. A study by researchers at Northumbria University in the UK has concluded that a man’s ability to dance well plays a role in choosing a quality mate. It’s survival of the slickest.
As per the study, it was found that women preferred men who moved their head, neck and torso more than their feet. Dr Nick Neave of the university’s psychology department, says this is because the moves suggests upper body strength, an attribute women find attractive. Speed is important as it conveys vigour.
A Mumbai choreographer says, “Latin dance forms are considered the sexiest — salsa in particular — because it involves extensive upper body movement.” Correspondingly, men look for women who shake their hips well, since it conveys fertility.
The key is to learn basic moves, go with natural body flow, and build up confidence. In any partnered dance, the girl does most of the work. You are the hanger against which she shows off her skills and looks.
Keep it simple
For men looking to make an impression at a social setting (a wedding or a night at the club), keep your movements basic. Styling (adding small movements to embellish the basic steps) will distinguish you from the crowd. Most clubs tend to play hip-hop or Bollywood. The first step is to dress right so that you are able to move fluidly. The second is to smell good, especially when dancing in a packed house. A cap with jeans-and-tee for a hip hop night are fine; knuckle rings and bling might be an overkill.
Regardless of whether you are dancing in a group or with a partner, attitude is key.
Keep your chin up, let your limbs relax and move naturally to the base beat. Use the floor space available to move around. Dance is communication. So you need to seem amicable and open to ‘conversation’.
When dirty dancing
If you are partnering with a woman, your movements need to be softer. You don’t want to punch her while trying to pop a Justin Timberlake move. Don’t overdo the proximity. Make sure she is comfortable at all times. “It’s important to maintain eye contact and smile. Sing along if you know the song.
Men don’t need to sweat at not being able to move your hips. Hip movement is associated with femininity; you don’t need to master it.
All bets are off, however, as soon as the DJ turns on his Bollywood playlist. “It’s the most difficult to choreograph because everyone starts emulating the hero in the video. But that’s not a bad thing. The chemistry associated with most filmi numbers leads the couple to instantly enact the romancing duo, which works in your favour. But always remember, standing out isn’t a great thing (unless you are John Travolta). The secret lies in blending in and not being ‘that guy who tried to pull an MJ to Daler Mehndi’.
The 4 step never fails move:
1. Hands bent at the waist, move your left hip out by taking one step forward. Repeat using alternate hand and leg combination. The idea is to use the small circle of space around you without stepping on people’s toes.
2. To add style to a simple move and make it impressive, add a slight shoulder movement while stepping forward. Think of it as drawing the figure ‘8’ with your shoulder blades. Be subtle and smooth. You don’t want to come across as having a seizure.
3. Be sure to keep your palms open in a natural manner. Eyes open, chin up and smile or sing along.
4. You can follow this up with moving your feet sideways to the beat. Vary your actions so you aren’t doing the same step throughout the night.
Benefits of Dancing
ACTS AS A STRESS BUSTER
Going for dance sessions together is a wonderful way to connect with your better half in an intimate manner. Partner dancing, like the Argentine Tango, Bachata, Salsa or Cha Cha, are all about balance, partnership and learning to move together, which works like therapy for couples who hardly get any time to bond in their busy lives.
Since one expresses himself/herself physically as well as emotionally while dancing, it’s one of the easiest ways to release stress and calm tensed muscles.
A Fitness Alternative
For those who don’t want to hit the gym, taking up a dancing class is the next best way to achieve a fitter, healthier body. High-energy dance forms like Zumba, Masala Bhangra and Hip Hop are cardiovascular and aerobic exercises that burn calories and tone the body; while other complex styles like Flamenco, Burlesque dancing, pole dancing and ballet make the body more flexible.
Confidence Booster
Dancing can also help people gain confidence. Shilpa Rane, who conducts exotic pole and lap dancing classes in Mumbai, says, “Women enroll for different reasons. Some wish to shape their booty, some want to de-stress, while the rest simply want to have fun. I’ve noticed that women, who walk in inhibited, walk out with a lot more self-confidence.”
As Michael Jackson once said, “To live is to be musical, starting with the blood dancing in your veins. Everything living has a rhythm. Do you feel your music?”
According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, regular dancing makes us smarter. The study showed that dancing integrates several brain functions at once — kinesthetic, rational, musical, and most importantly, emotional — which further increases our mind’s ability to think and stay sharp.
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