Is Dance unmanly?

[the Dept of Science]

Dance is the world's oldest mating ritual.
In pretty much every society but our own, dance is just part of the culture, so is neither manly or unmanly. To most of the world, asking whether dancing is manly is like asking whether eating or listening to music is manly.

I do swing dance, which is a partnered dance like ballroom or latin. I spend my evenings flinging girls around a dancefloor. I actually find partnered dancing a great way to display masculine traits, such as leading and physicality. The energy that you bring to a great dance is the same as you should bring to a date or sex. Similar for women.





Perhaps its not "macho", but "macho" is just a crude imitation of what true masculinity is.

 

[Fieldy409_v1legacy]

It's unmanly to worry about being manly.

 

[DANEgerous]

What do those dumb fucks think boxing is? Oh footwork and locked arm actions? Sounds a lot like a dace to me. In fact all fighting not done with a gun is more or less a form of dance.

 

[VonKlaw]

Pretty much anything can be manly, you just not to be able to reek of not giving a shit what people think. The world is pretty fucked up when something that pretty much involves holding women in various ways is girly.

 

[lacktheknack]

I thought a stereotypically "manly man" had to woo the girl via various things such as dance. At any rate, it's certainly not "unmanly".

I'm assuming you live in the Bible Belt, in which case you can remind them that KING DAVID danced up and down the street when the Ark of the Covenant was recovered. He danced so hard that his wife insulted him later. This is the same David that that knocked out a ten-foot monstrosity with a fist-sized rock and, in a scene out of Final Fantasy, decapitated it with a sword the size of himself.

 

[LiberalSquirrel]

-video snip-

If you can call this unmanly... Then something is wrong with you!

Well, I had a good response, but got... distracted... by this video.

Just... gimme a second.

-cough-

OT: Anyways, OP, the main thing that is unmanly is being worried about doing something unmanly, in my opinion. Someone that has enough confidence to do whatever they want and damn the consequences- even if it's not the stereotypical "macho" thing to do- is manly.

Plus. Dancing is both an old-as-hell courtship ritual and a great way for guys to show poise. The guy takes the lead and displays his strength, at least in most partnered dances. How is that unmanly?

And... well, I danced for a musical where I was wearing short-shorts, a tied-up crop top, and heels, constantly throwing myself (via pseudo-waltz) at my male partner (my general note being "you're seducing him with this dance, and doing your best to make him take you home after this"). Is the possibility of being in that guy's role manly enough for you?

 

[the Dept of Science]

What do those dumb fucks think boxing is? Oh footwork and locked arm actions? Sounds a lot like a dace to me. In fact all fighting not done with a gun is more or less a form of dance.

The difference is in the goal and emotions involved. Yes, they are similar insofar as they both involve 2 people moving. Except a boxer who focused on making his opponent enjoy himself as much as possible would be a pretty terrible boxer, same goes for a dancer that hoped to defeat his partner.

I think the more fundamental issue is about expressing sexuality. Most people are pretty uncomfortable with it. A lot of guys see pretty much any expression of emotion (except anger) as unmanly. This is another dissimilarity between dance and boxing. Dance is an art, its a form of self expression. I suspect those calling dance unmanly are the same types that think fine art is only something for gays and Europeans.
Really though, despite all I've said so far, rational arguments are unlikely to convince anyone that's already dismissed dance as "unmanly". However, if its something that you really want to learn, why should that let them stop you?

 

[Chalacachaca]

South American dancing? which part? because not all of us dance the same songs the same way (some of us don't even dance).

 

[Clinky]

Snip

Pretty much this. There are a lot of men that will see dancing as not being macho, but from what I have seen those with that mindset are also the kinds that think it's macho to wax their head with duck tape and superglue... Which is just stupid.

If your thinking south american does that include capoeira? Cause that doubles as a martial art. Though frankly I find rhumba, samba, salsa, and the rest of the latin dances to also be quite more fun to watch.

(If it counts for anything: My dream guy can dance like Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, or Donald o' Connor.)

 

[Airsoftslayer93]

Flamenco and tango are all about masculinity, passion and romance, the bullfighter character is the very definition of a man.

 

[Tanakh]

Dancing is gay as fuck.

Does that mean you shouldnt do it? Hell nah! If anything, its a reason to dance more. Give society the finger and demonstrate how secure you are in your sexuality and dance till you can dance no more.

I was going to post, but since he already said the core of what i was going to... ohh well, ill post anyway. Moreover, dance is fun, if it's not for you, then don't do it.

 

[Teh Jammah]

Anyone who says Chris Walken ain't manly deserves a punch in the throat.

OT: Anyways, OP, the main thing that is unmanly is being worried about doing something unmanly, in my opinion. Someone that has enough confidence to do whatever they want and damn the consequences- even if it's not the stereotypical "macho" thing to do- is manly.

Also this, very much so. Where's the damn 'like' button?

 

[BlackStar42]

Other blokes will probably mock you for it, whereas if you turn out to be good at it, the ladies will probably love you for it. I'll leave it up to you as to which you think is more important.

 

[Vault101]

acoridng to what exactally? our culutre?

ever seen the hakka?

 

[Singularly Datarific]

Balls no.
Just gotta look for the right kind (don't know if this entirely counts, but it's the first thing I thought of)

acoridng to what exactally? our culutre?

ever seen the hakka?

Saw your post exactly one second after I replied.

 

[irishda]

Gene Kelly would've beat your ass for saying dancing's unmanly, and then he'd dance away like a boss.

In his own words

There's a strong link between sports and dancing, and my own dancing springs from my early days as an athlete...I think dancing is a man's game and if he does it well he does it better than a woman. Dancing does attract effeminate young men. I don't object to that as long as they don't dance effeminately. I just say that if a man dances effeminately he dances badly ? just as if a woman comes out on stage and starts to sing bass. Unfortunately people confuse gracefulness with softness. John Wayne is a graceful man and so are some of the great ball players...but, of course, they don't run the risk of being called sissies. One of our problems is that so much dancing is taught by women. You can spot many male dancers who have this tuition by their arm movements ? they are soft, limp and feminine.

So he'd also beat your ass for DANCING unmanly too, I guess. Dancing is exactly as manly as you make it.

 

[iNsaneMilesy]

Depends on the dance, personally I like swing dancing the way allied soldiers of WW2 did it with style. Ubeat and fun it shouldnt matter, anything graceful or contemporary then yes, your manliness will be called into question.

 

[MorganL4]

If dancing is unmanly then explain this:




because if I got to do that with Cathrine Zeta Jones I'm pretty sure I'd be the manliest guy on the planet.