Men Dancing

There has been a point raised that men start out at a disadvantage because they are unfamiliar with dancing is an excellent one and deserves additional comment. We all have an innate feeling of music from the beginning of life. All you have to do is watch any child - boy or girl - dance uninhibitedly to music to see the truth of this.

“Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion

now accepted was once eccentric.”

"Brand New Key" by Melanie

As we get older, girls hone their dancing skills while boys gravitate toward other sports in school or on the streets. The abundance of soccer moms at present may represent a change in this scenario, but I'm referring to the current generation of men and women who, for the most part, grew up with fewer opportunities for female sports activities.

"Maui Waltz" by Loyal Garner

This divergence in activities leads to awkwardness on the male's part regarding the sport of dance. In retrospect, it would be hard to think of a better way to instill a terminal distaste for partner dancing than the way many boys have been introduced to it. The result is we denigrated it. "Dancing was for girls, not boys." Boys played football, baseball and other manly games. What we didn't realize is that real men, and especially socially successful men on Oahu, do dance and many dance very well.

When a man does decides to attempt to learn how to social dance, he is at a distinct disadvantage. Not only is he unfamiliar with the rhythm and footwork, he must also learn how to lead and that's tough. How about line dancing first, you don't have to lead. On Oahu it is easy and the women are amazing, familiar with rhythm and footwork and can follow a good leader in most social dances. On Oahu, men are picking up on this action and it looks good all around.

“Think like a man of action, and act like a man of thought.