lady

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Roark

As far as dancing in a club or whatnot I think that would be a fine place to learn. Lots of people, lots of styles, and no matter how bad you think you look there's always someone doing something which will leave you saying "Huh?" or good for a laugh even a week later when you're talking to your friends.

Have a few shots and hit the floor! As long as you're enjoying yourself it shouldn't matter.

Mael

at clubs you can also pick up what other people are doing, and then practice at home. turn on the stereo and move. part of why your not a good dancer is because you've not spent a lot of time doing it, so your not used to coordinating your body in that manner.

also, if you're still in school, see if there are any dance classes or clubs that you can take/join. i took a one credit swing dance last fall, and it was great. and i'm a horrible dancer. it went slow enough that i could pick everything up, but fast enough for us not to get bored. might be worth checking out.

Atanvarno

A friend of mine once said: "There are two kinds on bad dancers, those who don't know how to move, and those who don't feel the rythm."
The first is easy to cure. Just dance, and watch others picking up moves as you go.
The second is harder, but I'm sure that can be done too ...

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ncognito

When you're at clubs you can pick up what other people are doing, and then practice at home. turn on the stereo and move. You're not a good dancer because you've not spent a lot of time doing it, so your not used to coordinating your body in that manner.

Also, if you're still in school, see if there are any dance classes or clubs that you can take/join. i took a one credit swing dance last fall, and it was great. and i'm a horrible dancer. it went slow enough that i could pick everything up, but fast enough for us not to get bored. might be worth checking out.

Marie

I recognize you're problem (same reasons...)

My experience is that, if I'm dancing with mij bf, it is a lot easier! Just pretend it just the two of you and forget the rest of the world!

I agree on this! After a few times, it all feels more familiar and it will be fun!
And stay close to your bf! If he is the dancer you say he is, you can learn a lot from just watching him, even if he doesn't want to tell/show you.

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meff

I've never danced in my life much at all, and I am a DJ!

I can for sure learn the rythm but I just suck at dancing period. Maybe I need some lessions.

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baaa

The booze usually helps my dancing, or at least it helps me think that my dancing has improved

Averett

I don't think I'm a good dancer. I get really self-conscious. I do like dancing though. Well... I like dancing close with a guy. Slow grinding you may call it!

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Cynthetiq

my recommendation... find the nearest ballroom dancing school....

wait for their weekly or bi weekly possibly monthly if you live in small city, dances...

pay the cover... stand and wait... people will ask you to dance...to practice... for themselves.. let them know you don't know and they will inadvertantly teach you

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SabrinaFair

Ballroom dancing is great. It will not only teach you how to dance, but with the package comes lessons in grace, posture, and social interaction.

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kurty[B]

My early years of high school I had an afro-american girlfriend who realized I had no rythm, and took it upon herself to teach me how to find the beat, and move to the rythm. I must thank her for that, cause although I'm self-conscious about my dancing and generally don't do it I do have that 2nd ability out of the two types of bad dancers.

When by myself I do find myself moving to the beat, and if I have the whole house to myself I will get into it, and probably only my neighbors really see what my dancing ability is.

I did take some swing lessons from a friend a long time ago, and it is fun, but my partner at the time got clocked in the face with a shoe at a club one night and I haven't really swing danced since then??

As for at the club, I LOVE it when a girl wants to grind!!

If you know someone patient enough and you lack the ability to find rythm spend an evening with them listening to various songs and simply spend the evening trying to at first lift one foot then the other to the beat. Then lift your whole leg, then the other to the beat, then move your whole body with the beat, once you get every part of your body in tune with the music then watch peoples moves and mimic those if you like them.

GoldenOuroboros

Depends what you want to do.. If you want to dance in a club.. go clubbin (I myself usually have a couple of drinks first but no too many one or two is usually enough for me to loosen up) And then I get out and cut some rug (As my bro calls it )

If you want to learn to dance dance definetly go look into a few different style. I love to stand close to my fiancee and just rock back and forward when theres a nice romantic song on and twirl her around every now and then hehe.. it's all good.

I have a 'natural' rythm, some do, some don't.. I love to dance.. Dance to anything with anyone.. hehe.. even by myself..

Just go out and look around Lady, see what intrests you ask if you can have ago, and if does take your fancy, pay to be part of the club and learn

Keep us updated

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motdakasha

You could go to dance clubs and observe others dancing. Take notes, go home, and practice what you saw.
You could befriend people who love to dance and are willing to teach you.
Enroll in a dance class at school since it counts toward PE requirements and those reqs are often overlooked or forgotten.

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Sleepyjack

Although i got best boy dancer in primary school for ballroom style dancing (is that a style ) i'd suck at that now.
Anyhow, nowadays i quite like dancing, albeit wether i am good or not? who knows? i think its more an issue of being comfortable about yourself and not worrying if anyone is laughing at you. They're the ones with a problem. Unless you're doing some technical dancing, you can't really be good or bad at it. Just have fun and let the good times roll

IC3

I also agree with night clubs.

No one really pays that much attention anyways, Everybody's just focused on dancing, Feeling thier Guy/Girl up or watchin the DJ spin..And other stuff.

When I first started going to raves..I didn't want to dance or even just bounce just a little bit...But when that 1 track comes on that you love..You just have to dance or atleast move around.

I am not much of a dancer myself, But I do dance alittle bit if I am at a club or something.

If your having fun out at the clubs, Start dancing...you will have WAY more fun.

ratbastid

lurkette and I took a Lindy Hop Fundamentals class yesterday and it was a frickin' blast! We do East Coast and West Coast swing too, have since college, though we took a bunch of time off until recently.

Before I started, I'd have told you I was a bad dancer. Now I see I'm actually pretty darned graceful, and I'm at the point where I have the basics mastered, and can pay attention to style, which is the whole point of swing dancing.

Find out if there's a local swing dance group or club or something, and get yourself into one of their beginning swing classes. Then attend one of their regular dances (they have them--that's the point of there being an organized group) and don't be a wallflower. People WANT to dance with people of various levels. It makes me a better dancer to dance with someone who's just starting out--my lead has to be REALLY clear and firm.

Sledge

The problem with dancing (the kind you see in clubs, not specialized forms like waltz or popping) is that there's no one good way to do it. Why is that bad? Well, with most activities, you know what characterizes what's GOOD and what AIN'T. But with dancing some people just seem to do it better than others, for no discernable or consistent reason.

Frequent clubs with your friends and watch strangers dance. Pick it apart in your head, and get a sense of what YOU ideally want to look like. Then work toward that.

Some things to consider: speed, apparent ease, sexy and slinky vs. rhythmic, fluidity of motion, leg movement, arm movement, head movement, hips hips hips and how much you want to use them. Big movements are better than little, restrained ones. Restraint, in large, is something you should try to forego, as long as you don't look sloppy doing it... which is kind of the crux of the problem. And smile. No one likes a disaffected, bored dancer. Make eye contact. Having fun is sexy as fuck.

Good luck, let us know how it goes!

saucy knave

Just let The Force flow through you and you'll be fine.

giblfiz

who are you dancing for? yourself? your boyfriend? everyone else? I am in that oh so horrible #2 section, I can't find the beat. On the other hand, I dance for me so I just don't care. If your dancing for your BF, then just get moving, and run your hands around yourself when you do it, and he will be quite happy. if your dancing for the world, well, your out of my range of expertise.

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sapiens

Definitely a good idea. Classes are a good idea as well. Your comfort level in all dancing will increase even if your class is on a particular style. See if you can find one that you and your boyfriend can take together. My wife and I took a west coast swing class. It was awkward at first, but I felt more comfortable dancing with my wife as the class continued. Plus, it's a good way to spend some quality time with your significant other.

battlemouth

i actaully just started dancing about a year ago, you should try some salsa dancing its a great time and not hard to do, it helps you get rythym down and what not

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veruca

i love to dance ... i can do just about anything...swing, ballroom, salsa, line-dancing...i love the feeling of freedom in the movement...i would definatly say have some drinks, and just close your eyes and "Feel" the music. that is what works best for me...i love to watch the other people dancing, there are always people better and worse than me, and i like trying out new moves that i see someone doing...the biggest thing to remember is that for the most part, NOONE IS PAYING ATTENTION TO YOU...they are doing thier own thing with their friends...rhythm is the most important, cause as long as you are swaying in time, you won't look stupid...even the smallest movements as long as they are in time with the music will make you look cool

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Loup

How To Dance Properly
They have a couple of short videos to help you get started.

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numist_net

I just dont like dancing, and I don't care. Suits me fine.

Its ok though, I can ballroom dance, but that seizure stuff doesn't get me going...

bermuDa

ROFL djp that link is brilliance! basic twirl got me rolling

As for dancing, lady, I don't like dancing to pop music or rap or hip hop... Swing and ballroom (to some extent) are a different story

if you want to learn how to dance like the sluts on the dance floor, get a copy of girls gone wild D;

If you can move at all to the beat, you're halfway there

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mew

LOL DJP- "Elaine ripped me off" dance looks like what those Munchkins in Wizard of oz did. "~We represent the lollypop kids!The lollypop kids~"

Definetly feel your pain Lady. Cant dance and too shy to. It really looks like so much fun, but Im really shy. And I feel people would laugh at me. But try getting really really wasted and then youll get into it..Didnt work for me though..hahaha Im stubborn yes.