Dad Dancing
Dad Dancing
It might not have the
grace of the Foxtrot or the style of Argentine Tango but Dad Dancing is the new
dance craze sweeping the country. Dad Dancing is fun, big and most importantly
its impossible to get wrong! You don’t need a partner, you can dance it to any
type of music, and no-one’s going to correct your technique.
Dad Dancing is a form
of freestyle dance characterised by complete freedom of movement. The most
obvious examples of Dad Dancing can be seen when people make large, uncoordinated,
and uninhibited movements. But Dad Dancing is just as likely to be seen when
people make small, shuffly, wobbly movements.
When someone is really
Dad Dancing, in the true sense of Dad Dancing, they are completely in their own
world, they are dancing for themselves, and their movements are simply the
external expression of what they feel inside.
The Origins of Dad
Dancing
Dad Dancing can be
traced back to the earliest family celebrations where, typically, men in their
30s and 40s would dance, using movements that were not in the height of
fashion, and embarrass their children. Dad Dancing is universal, there are Dad Dancers in Tokyo,
Toronto, Tallahassee, Toowoomba and Tunbridge Wells.
The Science of Dad
Dancing
From an evolutionary
perspective (Darwin, 1871) dance is an integral part of the mate selection
process. Research has shown that
the way we dance is related to our hormonal and genetic make up, such that men
dance differently depending on their level of the sex hormone “testosterone”
and women dance differently depending on the stage they are at in the ovulatory
cycle. Most importantly these differences in dance movements are picked up by
people watching others dance and they form the basis of ratings of
attractiveness. In short, high testosterone men, and women at the fertile stage
of their ovulatory cycle, are rated as more attractive than men with low
testosterone and women at the less fertile stage of their ovulatory cycle.
So, dance moves signal
our hormonal and genetic make up. But what has this got to do with Dad Dancing?
Well, we know that when men are past their reproductive prime they start to
dance differently compared with when they were in their reproductive prime. In
a survey of 14,000 people, which included over 8,000 men, Dr Peter Lovatt found
that men in their 30s and 40s used bigger and less coordinated dance moves than
men in their teens and 20’s. Lovatt also found that women rated larger and less
coordinated dance moves as less attractive than the slightly smaller and more
coordinated dance moves often displayed by people in their teens and 20s.
Therefore, from an
evolutionary perspective, Dad Dancing might have evolved as a way of signalling
to women that men are past their reproductive prime.
The Health Benefits of
Dad Dancing
There are many health
benefits associated with dance. Dance can be good for a person’s general
health, their psychological well-being, and their mood and for general levels
of fitness. However, dance can also cause some people tremendous stress and
anxiety.
Dr Lovatt has carried
out a large-scale survey asking people either why they dance or why they don’t
dance. One of the main reasons that people don’t dance is because they feel
self-conscious, and one of the reasons they feel self-conscious is because they
feel afraid of making a mistake while they are dancing. This feeling was expressed
by a large number of people over the age of 30 who said that they were afraid
to dance because they no-longer knew the latest most fashionable dance moves.
One way to over-come
this feeling of not knowing the latest dance moves is to learn some new ones.
In large cities there are lots of opportunities to learn formal dances. For
example, people can learn the Ballroom and Latin dances, they can take up Salsa
or Line Dancing. However, to learn these dances might require the existence of
formal classes, a large space in which to dance, a partner and money for
lessons, which simply might not be available. In addition, learning these types
of dance comes with another difficulty. You have to learn the steps. You have
to get it right and there are often lots of people around who, when you step on
their toe, will tell you that you have got it wrong - and this can be stressful and damaging for your health.
The other way to
over-come the feeling of not knowing the latest dance moves is to just do what
comes naturally. Forget about what’s fashionable, forget about dancing for
other people, forget about getting things wrong and just dance for the sheer
pleasure of being alive. Most of all, just dance like no-one’s watching. When
we dance in this way we are in a position to gain all of the health benefits of
dance without suffering from the counteractive effects of stress and anxiety
associated with learning to do something “right” and being afraid of getting it
“wrong”.
Dad Dancing is the
perfect form of dance to improve your health because it doesn’t rely on you
knowing what to do, it is not tied to any particular form of music or fashion,
it doesn’t require a partner, a large space, or a formal class or money and it
is impossible to get wrong.
Is Dad Dancing “Bad”
Dancing
Dad Dancing is not bad
dancing. Dad Dancers can be highly skilled, coordinated dancers who have a wide
repertoire of moves and who can connect with the music and other people while
they are dancing. Dad Dancers can be a dream to dance with, because they are
relaxed, unashamed and free. Because of the free nature of Dad Dancing it can
also be big, wild, and uncoordinated.
Do you need to be a
Dad to Dad Dance?
You do not need to be
a dad to Dad Dance. You don’t even need to be in your 30s or 40s, or even be
male, to Dad Dance. Everyone who enjoys dancing in a relaxed, free and
uninhibited way can enjoy the many benefits of Dad Dancing.
Tips for getting started
with Dad Dancing
Next time you’re alone,
plug yourself into some music, close your eyes, forget who you are and start
moving. You’ll be amazed what happens next.
Dr Peter Lovatt
24th April 2010
© Peter Lovatt. All
rights reserved. 24th April 2010.