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I need to learn how to dance by Thursday night ! Help !

 
 
Jack Denfeld
06:39 / 21.06.03
OK, I'm going to a club for 80's night on Thursday. I missed out this Thursday, and found out everybody was dancing there, and I don't want to be a prude, so I need to learn how to dance by Thursday. Now I don't think it has to be pure 80's dance moves, and I don't really feel the need for novel and funny moves to begin with. Just some generic, I look like I've danced before, moves. Can anyone help?
 
 
w1rebaby
13:13 / 21.06.03
80s? Stand in one place with your feet close together, shake your arse a little from side to side, have your hands raised but your elbows down close to your body, and clap occasionally.
 
 
■
19:18 / 21.06.03
[Not that we want to encourage him, but maybe he'll spend more time off-board this way]
Okay. stand with legs slightly apart and jacket sleeves rolled up. Move right leg in to left leg. Move it back again. Move left leg in to right leg. Move it back again. Repeat ad. itsbitesfinitum.

Second thoughts, nooo. Real 80s disco move is to stand against a wall and sneer.
 
 
Char Aina
19:41 / 21.06.03
go stand in front of a mirror.

if you really have no ideas from doing just that, go watch a video clip of the kind of music you like.

watch the dancers. not the singers as they are usually duffers, but the actual trained dancers in the background.

now go back to the mirror.

IF STILL UNINSPIRED, REPEAT.



also, if you have physical skill, watch all the breakdance movies you can. if you can imitate them, throw a couple of the moves you see onscreen out in amongst your more standard gyrating. dont try the power moves (spins, handsprings, etc) because this will make you look lika twat unless you ca pull them off perfectly. instead, focus on the robot and popping stuff.

this will make you look like have been dancing for ages, and have seen folks bust these moves before.
 
 
EE
19:43 / 21.06.03
You could always try ecstacy. That usually works. When my buddy came to me asking for the same kind of help, I told him to pick out someone in the crowd and do what they do. If all you're worried about is not looking foolish, that ought to work. I can't promise that it'll feel as good as real dancing, but you'll fool the casual observer.
 
 
Spatula Clarke
00:59 / 22.06.03
Left foot in.
Left foot out.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
 
 
The Return Of Rothkoid
01:19 / 22.06.03
a) Wave your hands in the air.
b) Wave them like you just don't care.
c) Repeat.
 
 
bio k9
04:09 / 22.06.03
Don't fight the feeling give yourself a chance

Shake, shake, shake
shake, shake, shake

Shake your booty.
 
 
We're The Great Old Ones Now
10:08 / 22.06.03
See "Strictly Ballroom".

Take the advice contained therein.

Cut loose.

Try not to knock anyone out.
 
 
_Boboss
11:32 / 22.06.03
amphetamines+booze. bit like ecstasy but your coordination probably won't desert you so much. eighties dancing is like americans dancing in the movies, all hands in the air, look at me, bump your bum and swish your hair; but in a club you want to show that you've got a modern style already and are aping a bygone era, so try to do a bt of justin as well. above all don't worry about it at all, and just amuse yourself talking to folk on the edges if you can't be arsed. kim wilde is a bit rubbish really, and there's no shame in not dancing to her.
 
 
agapanthus
12:39 / 22.06.03
Jack, I endorse fridge fridge fridge's dance style suggestions. I spent a few nights doing the early 80s post-punk dance/pose of 'disco sux but by jove I can't help but shake to this noise in a stiff legged tremble and what do I do with my hands?').

What sort of music from the 80s are you dancing to on Thursday? Culture Club, The Gun Club or the Breakfast Club soundtrack?

If you've got the energy and the music is apt a burst of pogoing is probably a good eighties move. You could even grab one of your pals' shirts while you do it.

But, who am I kidding? I dance as well Russell Crowe.

Good luck.
 
 
grant
16:12 / 23.06.03
Pogo first, the rest will follow.
 
 
Jack Fear
17:00 / 23.06.03
Put your right foot in.
Take your right foot in.
Put your right foot in and shake it all about.


That's what it's all about, man.
 
 
Jack Fear
17:25 / 23.06.03
 
 
Mourne Kransky
17:31 / 23.06.03
Crap dancing was the fashion, Jack, in the 80's. I remember it well. By 1980's standards even I was blessed with dancing feet. So, just go for authenticity and make a tit of yourself. As long as you don't fall over and you look as though you could give a shit what anybody else thinks, you'll be spot on. Get the attitude right and the rest will follow. And wear leg warmers.
 
 
Baz Auckland
19:40 / 23.06.03
Listen to the music.

Move in time with the music.

Remember that 99.5% of the population can't dance either.

Relax.

Have fun!
 
 
spidermonkey
19:50 / 23.06.03
If you're going for the true 80's vibe you can get away with not dnacing at all, just look bored as hell, as if you are too cool to dance!
 
 
Jack Fear
19:52 / 23.06.03
Bah.

You can dance if you want to: in fact, you can leave your friends behind, because your friends don't dance—and if they don't dance, then, goddammit, they're no friends of mine.
 
 
agapanthus
20:20 / 23.06.03
If it's safe to dance, why not dance on the ceiling, 'cause there's no more room down there . . .
 
 
The Return Of Rothkoid
22:59 / 23.06.03
But Ag: Lionel Ritchie or Leo Sayer?
 
 
Mourne Kransky
08:55 / 24.06.03
Seems like some tuition in terpsichorean style might serve a double purpose, Jack. Not only will you garner social kudos at the 80's night for your dextrous footwork, leading to much horizontal mambo later in consequence, but I've just been reading a report of some research that says dancing will stop your brain rotting.

Not that you'll be concerned yet with the mental function you anticipate in your latter years but have just been reading that, according to research out of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, dancing can stave off dementia.

Usually it's clear that remaining mentally agile by learning a new language or doing crosswords etc. has an effect, whereas physical activity levels don't appear to. However, dancing is clearly a hybrid form, demanding intellectual and physical effort.

So, you can dance your way to long term mental health (as well as glam sex god status). Must study Jack Fear's diagram and get my own practice in.

Where did I put my castanets?
 
 
agapanthus
21:53 / 24.06.03
Rothko,
I'd opt for Lionel Ritchie for 2 reasons: distinction in 80s hair design for his permed mullet, and '3 x a Lady' as the wedding waltz song of choice.
 
 
_Boboss
11:39 / 26.06.03
or go here http://www.zefrank.com/indexdance.html
 
 
Jack Denfeld
06:05 / 27.06.03
I have just returned from 80's night, I am drunk as a skunk listening to 70's punk, and it went alright through both your advice and luck. (that whole sentence was supposed to rhyme) It was great fun! Thank you all! I kissed a pretty girl, danced with several girls, and had an absolutely beautiful time. All I needed was a bit of liquid courage to work up my nerve (and at $5.75 for a shot of Jack it was quite the expensive liquid courage) I got on the dancefloor and worked it like a person who was trying to work something. Like your vcr or dvd or something. But you were all right on, there was no particular style, I just kind of followed the rhythm left-right, left-right. And then when I really started to show off I would throw in a left-left-right-right. Anyway I haven't had that much fun in ages. Thanks everyone!
 
 
Jack Denfeld
07:12 / 11.07.03
Fuck! I should have been dancing my whole life, I've been missing out! Great fun!
 
  
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