I Should Have Been a Dancer

The pain of the following admission can only be matched by that of a celiac belly reaction following the ingestion of a chocolate dip from Tim Horton’s. Over the last three seasons I have watched with intent on a semi-regular basis So You Think You Can Dance. You may ask, why would a man that hates reality TV, who it could be argued actually hates reality and TV, watch such a show? Well it is a question I have asked of myself several times and will attempt to clarify in this essay, maybe.

Dance in my 28-year history has been a minimal phenomenon until recently. As a high school Don Juan I attended not a single school dance. As an unrepresentative citizen of Saskatchewan I only learned how to 2-step 2 years ago and to this day consistently get it confused with the Polka (which is quite funny as I never learned that step either). Even though my youth was more or less dance-free aside from the odd time the effects of alcohol released my inhibitions, with age I have become a dance floor disco dance champion. In reality it is fun, social, and at times a great way to forget you are surrounded by the stupidest of hominids when you find yourself in unsavory establishments for example Whiskey Jacks. The last time I was there on a Saturday (I blame the Poulin-Denis/Benoit ultimate power duo for myself being there, who by the way maintain one of the strongest bromances ever) in between my moon-walks and head spins I saw a PG clip of a birth on the TV and when I looked around at the drunken sex-driven social interactions I realized the incredible irony in those interactions given, in my estimation, that there was going to be 4 unwanted pregnancies conceived that night. But I digress.

Dance is an art form synonymous with expression relating to the human form and the interaction of forms. It is the physical counterpart to music exemplified by the fact that in many languages the word for dance and music are the same, according to a recent episode of The Nature of Things. Thus it is an inherent element in being human. So why do I like dance?

Firstly dance (and I refer here to professional dancers with mad skills) requires extreme athleticism, and I would argue so extreme that it is almost unmatched by any other athletic endeavor. As a former athlete for me athleticism is next to godliness because of the power and emotion experienced when seeing someone physically excel to the point of triumph (watch the Men’s 100m sprint). Second dance as an art form can and often does include many other art forms such as music, costume, lighting, and graphics/painting. No other art form facilitates the fusion of other forms like dance can. This ability creates layering and adds complexity to the performance, which allows the audience to become immersed and lost in the story and engage in a cognitive as well as entertaining experience. Thirdly dance embodies a sensuality and sexuality that is undeniably intriguing and exciting. Dancers, male and female alike, are incredibly attractive and their movements, whether solo or in multiples, increases that attraction exponentially. The embodiment of sensuality and sexuality is also manifested in the dancing of regular people albeit in a more talentless and instinctual kind of way, this is why it proliferates as an activity for the masses. As opposed to dance being a means of expression the goal the majority of the time seems to be intercourse and lots of it – just look at the dance floor of any bar. All sorts of people are up bopping around; dudes are either eyeing up or dancing with ladies in the hope of getting laid, and ladies are gyrating and shaking in provocative ways whether just because that’s how they like to dance or that they too want to get laid. Dancing leads to a madhouse of volatile hormones. So You Think You Can Dance has become a readily available means of being exposed to dance without being out, spending money, and being surrounded by hormone-invaded citizens. Perhaps that is why I watch it. But I can’t help but wonder if there is a difference between those that actively have an interest in dance and do it for it’s own sake and those that that engage in it only when it is on TV, when they’re trying to entertain themselves at a bar, or when they’re trying to score a piece of ass.

I think there are people out there who like to groove on the dance floor because of an appreciation and interest in moving, not just listening, to all types of music be it trance, rap, electronic, metal, or rock. I think by doing this people are engaging in a form of self-expression, be it conscious or not. This may not be an expression of anything particular through the movements they make like in a performance piece, although if someone is doing that all the power to them, rather I think it is the expression of self-comfort and confidence. Displaying comfort and confidence in one’s self is the most fundamental form of self-expression because it is internally rooted in identity and the most vulnerable part of an identity. Vulnerability comes from the risk of being judged therefore to do something like dance that signifies overcoming the vulnerability is expressing self-comfort, confidence, and thus themselves. From my observations I do not see society as being full of self-confidence, comfort, and expression. I think people succumb to the risk of vulnerability and put up fronts to protect themselves all too readily. I would love to think that many who cut-loose just for the sake of it, sans booze or bootie, are those who are grounded in themselves and not afraid to show it – a beautiful and poetic relationship between personality and dance could be established. But as the saying goes, you can question a person’s judgment but you cannot question their motivation; so my theory remains unchecked.

I like moving to the beat, watching those who do it better than I in whatever form, even So You Think You Can Dance, and maybe just maybe someday I can dance a little better as a result. I know for me the progression from being a shy stick in the mud to a willing participant on any dance floor or at any music venue have occurred as a result of being more comfortable and confident in myself. I certainly don’t do it to pick up ladies and if I get to the point where I need to dance as a distraction I just leave. So I guess I have at least one piece of supporting evidence towards my theory.