Care to dance?

[Benjamin Strange]

It strikes me as odd that most musicians I meet can't dance. It seems that we should be able to dance better than most, since we're much more aware of what's going on with the music than most non-musicians. What's the story here? When I dance, I look like I'm a one legged duck having a grand mal seizure.

So, do you dance? Can you dance? Will you dance?

[Josh Ryan]

I only dance to the slow ones. I look like a one legged duck having a seizure that's been shot and run over by a truck while smoking crack and drinking absinthe otherwise.


edit: I don't know why either.

[Matthew Bryson]

Originally Posted by Benjamin Strange

So, do you dance?

No, I do not.

Originally Posted by Benjamin Strange

Can you dance?

I suppose in theory, I could.

Originally Posted by Benjamin Strange

Will you dance?

No, I will not.

The truth is that if I am all alone and the music moves me, I can dance probably just as good as any guy out at the club on Fri or Sat night. Also, if I'm all alone I really enjoy singing and I don't think I'm half bad. But I am a very self conscious person and I would never sing or dance in front of people, period. That's why playing bass appeals to me. Keep me out of the spotlight, thank you very much. I don't want people looking at me.

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally Posted by Benjamin Strange

It strikes me as odd that most musicians I meet can't dance. It seems that we should be able to dance better than most, since we're much more aware of what's going on with the music than most non-musicians. What's the story here?

I'm not surprised - there were several threads around here where we found out that most people were actually introverts - and it does make sense for musicians, as making music is something that allows you to be sociable, without necessarily requiring you to make small talk and do the kind of things that extroverts love, but which drain introverts energy away.

Dancing, to me is classic extrovert behaviour and hence very stressful for introverts, who are more likely to clam up, or head for the nearest corner, bar etc ...?

[Brendan]

I do a mean jig, does that count?

...My brothers and I are also known to spontaneously start doing "Riverdance." Which alarms people to see us more or less simultaneously start doing the same dance out of the blue. It's not that we're psychic, it's that by the time that first leg has started to rise, and the hands start to hit the hips, we already know what's going on. It looks rather odd, especially when it happens in the middle of a conversation about, say, physics.

"So, given the velocity of the,"
BAM, Riverdancing.

[NJL]

i can only dance after i have had a few drinks to wind down a bit.

[Josh Ryan]

Originally Posted by Brendan

I do a mean jig, does that count?

...My brothers and I are also known to spontaneously start doing "Riverdance." Which alarms people to see us more or less simultaneously start doing the same dance out of the blue. It's not that we're psychic, it's that by the time that first leg has started to rise, and the hands start to hit the hips, we already know what's going on. It looks rather odd, especially when it happens in the middle of a conversation about, say, physics.

"So, given the velocity of the,"
BAM, Riverdancing.

How much for a video?

[Brendan]

Originally Posted by Blisshead

How much for a video?

For two longhairs, built about like you, Bliss, and a beanpole doing a really crappy imitation of Riverdance that appears to be more or less 1/3 tap, 1/3 hoe down, and 1/3 skanking? ... $50 a pop. Run time is 3 minutes.

[secretdonkey]

However debilitated, ducks have a certain panache. When *I* dance, it looks rather like a june bug just trying to walk.

I've often wondered the same thing. I practice to a metronome... I'm acutely, nay, obsessively aware of the beat and rhythm. Why can't I dance? Dammit!

[Josh Ryan]

Originally Posted by Brendan

For two longhairs, built about like you, Bliss, and a beanpole doing a really crappy imitation of Riverdance that appears to be more or less 1/3 tap, 1/3 hoe down, and 1/3 skanking? ... $50 a pop. Run time is 3 minutes.

I'll need a 15 second preview. And can the Beanpole wear a Swedish Milkmaid's style dress?

[Brendan]

Originally Posted by Blisshead

I'll need a 15 second preview. And can the Beanpole wear a Swedish Milkmaid's style dress?

You'll have to take that up with him. Us two longhairs are down for laderhosen (sp?) though.

And, if you wanna pay for some airline tickets to get us three in the same room, by all means, do.

[Passinwind]

So, do you dance?

It's all about the partner. That, and the intoxicants.

Can you dance?

HAHAHAHAHA !
Bust a move, just try me.

Will you dance?

Hmmm, I barely even know you...

I used to play with a drummer who was always trying to get me to dance onstage while I was playing. She was a good enough drummer to make that happen pretty frequently too. I miss that, actually. Both of the female singers in my jazz band are very good dancers, and I find it really inspiring to my bass playing.

But seriously, this is an interesting thread, and I feel that learning how to dance could be potentially as useful as learning how to sing (which I believe is critical to musicianship). Just loosening up a little bit on that introversion Bruce mentioned is bound to be a good thing in any case, no?

[Joey3313]

I started playing an instrument so I wouldn't have to dance.




I never could.

[Brendan]

Charlie, I believe it can hurt. Remember how Elaine danced in Seinfeld?

...yeah.

I've got all the funk of Vanilla Ice and all the smoothness of Gilbert Gottfried, with the sexy allure of Tom Arnold. I shouldn't be seen in direct light, let alone dancing.

[Josh Ryan]

Originally Posted by Brendan

Charlie, I believe it can hurt. Remember how Elaine danced in Seinfeld?

...yeah.

I've got all the funk of Vanilla Ice and all the smoothness of Gilbert Gottfried, with the sexy allure of Tom Arnold. I shouldn't be seen in direct light, let alone dancing.

I have more funk than vanilla ice, but I'm with you otherwise.

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by Brendan

I've got all the funk of Vanilla Ice and all the smoothness of Gilbert Gottfried, with the sexy allure of Tom Arnold. I shouldn't be seen in direct light, let alone dancing.

I have all the vocal stylings of Mr. Tooth, doesn't stop me from putting it in public once in a while.

I'll be demanding the Riverdance schtick if I ever get a chance to see you gigging in P'town. You may feel free to mock my Verdine White- meets- David Byrne mannerisms anytime too, bro.

I actually used to dance all the time before I started playing in bands and mixing shows, and rarely do anymore. Once I hooked up with my wife, I suddenly started getting accosted in the clubs by hot women, prolly cause I'm now a "safe" old geezer. This never happened when I could have acted on it, of course. Get it while you can, guys.

[Bard2dbone]

I too, am dance impaired. I have the not-unusual-in-this-crowd medical distinction of being an ambisiniped. I occasionally will bust out if I am somewhere safe, say at home with nobody but my wife to witness, and Johnny Clegg and Savuka's 'Scatterlings' has just come on the radio.

Even the dance-impaired can't resist that mpaqanqa beat.

Seriously, you've got to listen to some mpaqanqa music. If it doesn't make you want to dance, then your wooden leg must be in the shop. Johnny Clegg is the only mpaqanqa artist I can remember the name of. He had two bands, 'Juluka' and 'Savuka'. I believe those mean 'Sweat' and 'Uplift' respectively, but since I don't speak Swahili, it's anybodies guess.

Oh and 'Asim Bonanga' (sp?) is very cool as well. BUt it won't make you want to dance, or at least it doesn't me.

[mikezimmerman]

I dance--it's one of the main reasons I got a wireless for the bass, so I could get out and dance with the folks at our shows. (It's less stressful than making small talk, which I'm terrible at...)

I've been told by females in the audience that they like to watch, too, which is always nice to hear.

Mike

[Wrong Robot]

I know a couple things, but, despite knowing a couple things, being a lanky 6'4 makes me look ridiculous no matter how well I execute them.

[Matt Till]

(Phil Collins voice on)

IIIiii can't dance...


*etc*

It's cool as hell to be able to dance, but... meh, I'm lazy.