Whether this is a surprising claim or not, not all people are as confident as Kesha in believing that the party doesn’t start until they walk in and often choose to avoid certain activities and areas (e.g., dancing and the dance floor) in hopes of not drawing attention to themselves.
Dancing can feel personal and bring about insecurities or confidence, and some individuals are more inclined than others to feel comfortable letting loose on the dance floor. Dallas-area resident Kirsten Kraske said she enjoys opportunities to dance, regardless of whether or not other people can see her doing so.
“I think it’s so fun,” she said. “For me, I think it’s because I’m extroverted, I love music, and it makes me feel good.”
Like Kraske, Dallas resident Darryl Radford enjoys showing off his moves and said he is notorious among his friends and family members as someone who doesn’t simply walk but runs to the dance floor when the music starts playing, especially at memorable celebrations for the loved ones in his life.
“My favorite thing about weddings is dancing at receptions—it’s so fun to see everyone let loose and bond over some great music,” he said. “The nervousness about it goes away as soon as others see someone out there and join in. I like to get out there early so that others will have time to shake off their nerves and join. I’m sure they’re thinking ‘if that guy who thinks he can do the worm is out there having fun, surely I can do my little two-step and fit in,’ and that’s exactly what I’m going for.”
Many individuals, however, are rather hesitant to bust any sort of moves on the dance floor when other people with the sense of sight are present. While such reluctance could be a result of social anxiety (according to Yale Medicine, approximately 13 percent of Americans experience social anxiety disorder or various symptoms of social anxiety), it often stems from shyness or self-consciousness, as dancing can ignite the universal human anxiety about being vulnerable in front of others.
“For those who don’t dance often, it feels very personal and soul-baring,” Radford said. “There’s also pressure to be ‘good’ at it, based on what is seen in movies or television, so people get embarrassed about their dancing skills if they don’t think they have the same skills as someone else.”
But Radford said he thinks that everyone is a good dancer as long as the individual is enjoying himself or herself.
“If someone is dancing with a smile and looking confident in whatever they’re doing, I believe it and am here for it,” he said.
Those who are truly fearful of dancing may be struck with chorophobia, which is the fear of dancing and potentially causes individuals to become distressed in situations that involve dancing, isolate themselves in such circumstances, and even avoid attending events that might include dance floors. Others might simply be more afraid of what they look like when dancing and still be able to be around it but not participate.
“It could make people feel self-conscious if they don’t feel they’re good at dancing,” Kraske said. “It might feel awkward, or they just don’t want the judgment from others.”
For those who don’t feel inclined to dance in public, perhaps they can take comfort in the fact that many people on the dance floor are so busy focusing on themselves and their own dancing that they likely aren’t scrutinizing the moves of those around them.
Another concern that may arise for some event or social outing attendees is participating in structured dances in which those on the dance floor seem to know all of the moves or style of dancing, such as during line dances or certain songs, at two-stepping venues, etc. While some people opt to dance to the beats of their own drums, so to speak, others would prefer that those who choose to dance stick to the standards.
“I think if you’ve made the decision to go to a place where you know there’s a specific kind of dancing, you should participate in that type of dancing, whether this be ballroom dancing, a wedding, or country dancing,” Kraske said.
Radford, on the other hand, said he thinks that people should not be restricted by such rules when it comes to participating in specific group or line dances, though he understands that not everyone is of the same mindset.
“I love learning new dances, so I always hop on the floor and try to learn on the fly, but I have been given nasty looks before by people who don’t think I should be out there unless I know the dance already,” he said. “I think that’s dumb because the only way to learn is to try. If someone doesn’t know the dance, they should feel free to participate in their own way, but I would say maybe don’t be in the middle of a group doing a choreographed dance because that could lead to some black eyes and stomped feet.”
Regardless of whether one chooses to dance in step or create new ones that didn’t previously exist, there is something about a dance floor, especially at a wedding or other form of big celebration, that fosters a more collective experience for those enjoying the music together.
“I think dancing creates a place of camaraderie because it can draw in a group of people,” Kraske said.
Radford also thinks that a lively dance floor can truly bring people together and said he enjoys gathering with a group to enjoy dancing together, even when it involves a little persuasion for some individuals.
“My favorite thing is to get non-dancers out and feeling comfortable enough to try or just give in to the moment,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how ‘good’ you are—if you just move however feels right to you and look like you’re having a good time, people will believe you and have a good time with you.”
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NatNews staff, a dear reader, and sweet (and sometimes psycho) pups recently enjoyed a walk on the Katy Trail