What percentage of men do not enjoy dancing?

[cbo111]

I've never enjoyed dancing. I love music and can frequently be seen gyrating around the house when a good song is playing on the stereo. I just cannot summon the interest in doing it on command, like in a bar, at a wedding, etc. I get this creepy feeling like I'm faking something, and generally cannot wait til the song ends. I vividly recall dancing (about 40 years ago!) to Love To Love You Baby - Donna Summer. Over 16 minutes of hell.
DW treated me to three Fred Astaire Dance Studio lessons many years ago. I made it through the first two lessons. Each lesson was an hour; half spent dancing with DW, and half dancing with my male instructor. The latter caused a small river of sweat to pour out of my armpits, down my waist, and into my slacks. I could not muster the courage to do the final lesson.
Am I alone? Any other non-dancers out there?

 

[RunningBum]

Really dislike dancing. Maybe you should make a poll? I know there are at least a couple here who really enjoy it. Great for them.

 

[W2R]

My late ex never danced, and Frank doesn't dance either. I don't think they ever enjoyed dancing.

Some people are forced to take piano lessons when they are kids, and hate piano. I loved piano. However I was forced to go to not one, but THREE dance groups in junior high, for kids my age. These groups met regularly (every week, two weeks, or monthly). They were supposed to teach us to dance and theoretically to enjoy dancing. Knowing how to dance was considered to be a necessary social grace by some people (such as my mother) in those days. So, I couldn't get out of it. I learned the foxtrot, the jitterbug, the waltz, the tango, the cha cha, and many more; even the twist once it appeared. Oh, and then I also had to go with my parents to square dance too every now and then.

Not my cup of tea. Despite being female I never liked dancing, even after suffering through those dance groups. I didn't dance as an adult. So, the fact that the men in my life didn't/don't dance, has been a positive attribute in my opinion.

My hypothesis is that some people (for example ER forum member HaHa) LOVE to dance, others don't, and that one's attitude towards dancing must be inborn or at least not easily changed.

 

[Aerides]

I would estimate that the % of men who would say they enjoy dancing is ~15%.

And don't worry, the % of women who enjoy it is nowhere near 100 either.

 

[Car-Guy]

Never cared for it....

 

[travelover]

I took ballroom dancing lessons for a couple of years and got pretty good at it because "she" liked it. After the divorce, never danced again. Seems to be a female thing, mostly.

 

[Sunset]

When younger I viewed dancing as a mating ritual, if single and unattached it was the way to meet and evaluate people.

Once attached, it seemed silly as already accomplished the goal.
If I attracted another female, I had to disappoint her, and if my mate attracted a male, I felt threatened, and the results were going to be one of:

• she telling me she's not interested and the mood is spoiled.
• we leave, as the mood is spoiled.
• I beat him up and then we leave and again the mood is spoiled.

 

[CardsFan]

DW [-]insisted[/-] suggested we take same dance lessons in preparation for our son's wedding (which has since been Covid postponed, marriage, but no party).

I actually had fun learning. The problems are:

1. DW insists we always follow the routine. No changes (unless she makes them)

2. DW will NOT follow a lead ( see above)

 

[Dtail]

Well I like dancing as does my DGF, but we haven't been dancing for awhile as many dancing places start too late, plus Covid stuff right now.

 

[Letj]

I enjoy dancing and rhythm comes to me easily. I dance Argentine tango, ballroom and just about all the Latin dances. My DH hates dancing and really has two left feet. A bit disappointing because I don’t have a built in dance partner which is so much better when you do partner dances.

 

[msieweke]

Male here. I've always liked dancing. I used to square dance as a teen, plus line and ballroom dancing. I still like it, but rarely get the opportunity. OTOH I really dislike dancing to pop music, probably because I never had lessons and never know what do with my hands.

 

[aaronc879]

Give me the right music and a couple drinks and I like to dance solo. I never like to dance with a partner, ever.

 

[Amethyst]

Not since college have I known a man who wanted to dance. I never learned either, so it was no problem.

Still, why, when we go out, do we see so many old couples plodding around the dance floor? They seem to be enjoying themselves; and they are old enough to have quit doing anything they only used to do because "everybody does it."

 

[Midpack]

We went dancing in college all time, was a favorite pastime. But we were decent at it, because we did it often. Now I’m confronted with dancing about once a year, so I’m so out of practice I can’t enjoy it. I dance with DW because she enjoys it, I don’t at all anymore.

 

[JRon]

When DW and were married something came over us - all of a sudden I hated dancing and she could fix a zipper! Amazing I tell you.

 

[Amethyst]

Why were you all of a sudden busting your zippers?

When DW and were married something came over us - all of a sudden I hated dancing and she could fix a zipper! Amazing I tell you.

 

[Ronstar]

I don’t dance. I think I last danced with DW at her sister’s wedding reception 20 some years ago. And only after DW demanded it.

 

[MuirWannabe]

I don’t dance. I’d like to learn. But never have. Not much worse than being Shanghai’d out to the dance floor when you have zero confidence and know you are awkward. But taking lessons could bring that confidence, and then I think it’d be fun.

Ironically, now DW has no interest in taking lessons with me.

 

[aja8888]

I confess.....I only did it to be near the women.

 

[Aerides]

I confess.....I only did it to be near the women.

And when you meet a women who understands football, now you know why.

 

[aja8888]

And when you meet a women who understands football, now you know why.

 

[omni550]

I got into ballroom dancing about 10 years ago. We went to Sunday night dances with about 200 people...college-aged to age 80. Many singles, some couples. No one cared who you danced with as everyone was there to dance. Sometimes we had more men than women and other times more women than men.

A subgroup of about 10-15 of us (seniors, pretty evenly split male & female) usually sat together and often danced together. Afterwards we'd go out for a quick bite and to chat. I recall one of the single guys (a very good dancer btw) saying, "Where else can I go and put my hands all over a lady and afterwards she thanks me?"

Alas, with covid, these dances are no more, for the time being.

omni

 

[WyomingLife]

I once square danced in 7th grade gym class back in 1891

 

[VanWinkle]

And when you meet a women who understands football, now you know why.

+1

 

[6miths]

I have always loved dancing. So many positive memories associated. Love hearing songs that literally move me! With a partner, by myself I'm good to go - I'm sure neighbors laugh when they see me dancing as I do yard work with my headphones on. One of the reasons DW and I are together is likely that she is such an incredible dancer - jazz and ballet - she can just move. At weddings and things, people frequently comment on our rug cutting ability. Three of four children danced with the National Ballet company.