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Because my wife is a wonderful woman who deserves a better husband, I went with her to an adult beginner class in Irish dancing.

Sadly, it confirmed my life long hatred of dancing. I'm lousy at it, it brings me no joy. I had nightmares about it all last night.

I've played many many gigs for swing dancers. I love playing for dancers. I loath dancing.

I did manage to learn to waltz at one point, pretty credibly, but I can't say I ever really enjoyed it.

How many of you who play also dance?

I love playing for dancers. I loath dancing.

Fully with you there. To me it's a spectator sport.

Not me, two left feet...

"two left feet" has to be an excuse though. It's like people saying "i have no musical talent." What they're really saying is "i have no appetite for practice."

I was thinking about this--I don't feel like a naturally good musician, I feel like I've always had to work really hard at it. But the practice was a relative pleasure. It still is--it's like an itch I have to scratch. I assume most "natural" musicians have that inclination, to a greater degree.

Learning to dance is awful for me, but my wife--who isn't particularly graceful--loved it and thought it was great fun. I think part of it is dance is inherently social--you have to deal with...shudder...people. A huge part of musical practice is solitary

I think part of it is dance is inherently social--you have to deal with...shudder...people.

You could be right......& at close quarters too...

But honestly, dancing has never impressed me.

I spent a lot of years doing martial arts in my youth.

I spent no years dancing.

When someone steps up belly-to-belly with me, all I want to do is this:

PB+J wrote:Because my wife is a wonderful woman who deserves a better husband, I went with her to an adult beginner class in Irish dancing.[...]

I did the same, for the same reason. I don't *hate* dancing, but when we did that course I thought (as I often do, or used to do when I watch dancing), "it looks kind of fun". But it wasn't. Set dances was what we did. I even managed to actually do it right now and then, feet and everything doing the right thing, on time, but then I realized that it did not feel nice at all. It was as un-interesting as doing the stepping games (or what should I call it) we did as children, as an adult. Absolutely meaningless. I will continue to work a bit on simple pair dancing with my wife. I dislike dancing with other women.

If I dance at all, it is like haiku: very brief, and abstract.

Nanohedron wrote:If I dance at all, it is like haiku: very brief, and abstract.

The juxtaposition, haiku and dance is truly inspired.

PB+J wrote:A huge part of musical practice is solitary

So is a huge part of dance practice...

Katharine wrote:

PB+J wrote:A huge part of musical practice is solitary

So is a huge part of dance practice...

Is it? I have no idea. My daughter is a serious dancer, doing ballet, and group practice seems to be a heavy focus. Swing dancing seems to require partners to learn. Maybe Irish dancing is more of a solo practice thing?