YES!!! Dancing has been a huge part of many cultures in the world since time immemorial. For every occasion and emotion! My pet hypothesis is that it particularly fell out of favor in the west (as a purposeful practice) because of Christian influence and the mind-body split. Some peoples even dance in funerals as an expression of grief.
It's coming back a bit now but though it's slightly hindered by the associations with new ageism etc. but I really wish people didn't let that stop them from trying it. It does have clear benefits. You can use any kind of music. You don't have to know how to dance. Just move the body with whatever music you like.
I dance at least a little every day, even if I don't feel like it. And I very purposefully dance to aggressive music when I'm angry because I have a temper, and I don't want it get the better of me. It has worked really well.
Edit: Not to devalue talking about your feelings at all btw. But a lot of people struggle with intellectualizing their emotions to the point they can't connect to them at all in their body. You need a balance.
Dance is like religion or sexual orientation: You can force it to some extent, but you gotta be pre-wired for it. Not everyone wants it as much or the same way. Sure, some enjoy it, and even profit from showing themselves off socially and getting that attention, but it shouldn't be always required or shamed.
You’re thinking of the social-sexual interaction with dancing. People here are talking about dancing as pure expression, an extension of your inner feeling with movement. Your comment comes off a little red-pilly incelish.
Yes, that was part of the argument, but not the core part, sorry if that was distracting. Social-sexual interaction really clouds all the preassociations people have with dance and layers in a shame element. Dance as a proxy/secondary sexual fitness characteristic creates a false conditional associated with its absence.
I should have emphasized more that even when performed in isolation, dance won't necessarily tap emotional pathways that aren't pre-wired or preconditioned. Proprioceptive sensitivity, exertion (endorphin sensitivity), even aerobic fitness will have a large effect on efficacy of this proposed emotional regulatory effect, and those are largely genetically pre-determined. Some people just won't benefit much from it and shouldn't be shamed if it doesn't "fix them", as if they aren't in touch with themselves or "close minded". Maybe being jaded by stuff like this is making me sound "red-pilly". I'll have to be more careful, thanks for that.
There have been lots of pop psychology "cures" like these. "Scream Therapy" comes to mind from the eighties. Varied success, really depending on the individual.
All that to say: If it works for you, great. But don't make people do it and then shame them when they aren't magically fixed. (I know that's not what you, particularly, are saying)
Which part? That people can be different? I know religion and sexuality can be triggering, so there's some risk drawing parallels there, granted. Maybe a less controversial comparison might be "an ear for music" or a "sense of direction"? Something with a both nature and nurture components.
Of course people are different, don't be like that man. "Ear for music" is better, but I think it's pretty dang innate and more like breathing. Not talking about learning choreography, just moving your body. Like the guy you're replying to said
I really wish I had the guts to dance. I'm afraid of dancing. I don't like dancing. I wish I liked dancing. I wish I could connect with people through dancing. Jeesh dancing is such an anxiety inducing topic to me... Wai... :(
Well, if channeling negative energy through dance is a thing, then maybe I could give it another try. But I feel silly and embarrassed just by imagining it. :(
I mean you don't head bang cause you like the brain damage.
People mostly dance to get off emotions. The best ballet is when it is with a feeling behind it. Just watch the Olympics figure skaters during the gala when they get to perform however they want.
I enjoy doing jazz hands. I don't care if it looks silly.
33 Comments
_OneSoul_@lemmy.world · 20 pts · 157d
YES!!! Dancing has been a huge part of many cultures in the world since time immemorial. For every occasion and emotion! My pet hypothesis is that it particularly fell out of favor in the west (as a purposeful practice) because of Christian influence and the mind-body split. Some peoples even dance in funerals as an expression of grief.
It's coming back a bit now but though it's slightly hindered by the associations with new ageism etc. but I really wish people didn't let that stop them from trying it. It does have clear benefits. You can use any kind of music. You don't have to know how to dance. Just move the body with whatever music you like.
I dance at least a little every day, even if I don't feel like it. And I very purposefully dance to aggressive music when I'm angry because I have a temper, and I don't want it get the better of me. It has worked really well.
Edit: Not to devalue talking about your feelings at all btw. But a lot of people struggle with intellectualizing their emotions to the point they can't connect to them at all in their body. You need a balance.
antbricks@lemmy.today · 4 pts · 157d
Dance is like religion or sexual orientation: You can force it to some extent, but you gotta be pre-wired for it. Not everyone wants it as much or the same way. Sure, some enjoy it, and even profit from showing themselves off socially and getting that attention, but it shouldn't be always required or shamed.
TheMinister@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 156d
You’re thinking of the social-sexual interaction with dancing. People here are talking about dancing as pure expression, an extension of your inner feeling with movement. Your comment comes off a little red-pilly incelish.
antbricks@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 154d
Yes, that was part of the argument, but not the core part, sorry if that was distracting. Social-sexual interaction really clouds all the preassociations people have with dance and layers in a shame element. Dance as a proxy/secondary sexual fitness characteristic creates a false conditional associated with its absence.
I should have emphasized more that even when performed in isolation, dance won't necessarily tap emotional pathways that aren't pre-wired or preconditioned. Proprioceptive sensitivity, exertion (endorphin sensitivity), even aerobic fitness will have a large effect on efficacy of this proposed emotional regulatory effect, and those are largely genetically pre-determined. Some people just won't benefit much from it and shouldn't be shamed if it doesn't "fix them", as if they aren't in touch with themselves or "close minded". Maybe being jaded by stuff like this is making me sound "red-pilly". I'll have to be more careful, thanks for that. There have been lots of pop psychology "cures" like these. "Scream Therapy" comes to mind from the eighties. Varied success, really depending on the individual.
All that to say: If it works for you, great. But don't make people do it and then shame them when they aren't magically fixed. (I know that's not what you, particularly, are saying)
moonshadow@slrpnk.net · 2 pts · 157d
Strongly disagree
antbricks@lemmy.today · 2 pts · 157d
Which part? That people can be different? I know religion and sexuality can be triggering, so there's some risk drawing parallels there, granted. Maybe a less controversial comparison might be "an ear for music" or a "sense of direction"? Something with a both nature and nurture components.
moonshadow@slrpnk.net · 1 pts · 157d
Of course people are different, don't be like that man. "Ear for music" is better, but I think it's pretty dang innate and more like breathing. Not talking about learning choreography, just moving your body. Like the guy you're replying to said
Warl0k3@lemmy.world · 19 pts · 157d
Like a big spider. Dance like you're trying to get a big spider off your chest.
Krauerking@lemy.lol · 10 pts · 157d
Or a small one you have lost sight of.
RickeySpanish@lemmus.org · 9 pts · 157d
I came here to ask how you dance to get something off your chest, but this explains it well enough
Proprietary_Blend@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 157d
Or dozens of medium sized orb weavers
breakfastmtn@lemmy.ca · 14 pts · 157d
https://youtu.be/T6dmMUR9TVI
Anuttara@leminal.space · 5 pts · 157d
this is so great :D
_OneSoul_@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 157d
Love this!
Krauerking@lemy.lol · 4 pts · 157d
Holy crap! This nailed the assignment. A+
Edit: they also sing the Lemmy Theme Song
BestBouclettes@jlai.lu · 12 pts · 157d
Might be my autism, but dancing makes absolutely no sense to me. I also have absolutely no sense of rhythm, so that probably doesn't help either.
Krauerking@lemy.lol · 6 pts · 157d
My autism makes me like to dance through the house and have random urges to give jazz hands.
MurrayL@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 157d
Dancing isn’t really supposed to make sense; it’s not a logical act.
cadekat@pawb.social · 3 pts · 157d
It's funny how this can both be a freeing thought and a criticism of how one dances.
sudoMakeUser@sh.itjust.works · 9 pts · 157d
Not sure how sharing how I slept with their sister will make me a better dancer but I'll try it.
Krauerking@lemy.lol · 3 pts · 157d
Maybe practice dodging as a dance move first.
moonshadow@slrpnk.net · 9 pts · 157d
Alone: fully nude, leaping and prancing, attuned to nature's cycles, feeling the rhythm, exploring my body's physical potential
Observed: ensconced in heavy workwear, hands in pocket to grip weapon, scanning for threats, every muscle tensed to strike or flee
Engywuck@lemmy.zip · 7 pts · 157d
I vehemently hate dancing. No way.
PoastRotato@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 157d
I didn't think people said things like this outside of Footloose
Engywuck@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 157d
I've never watched that movie.
emotional_soup_88@programming.dev · 3 pts · 157d
I really wish I had the guts to dance. I'm afraid of dancing. I don't like dancing. I wish I liked dancing. I wish I could connect with people through dancing. Jeesh dancing is such an anxiety inducing topic to me... Wai... :(
Krauerking@lemy.lol · 4 pts · 157d
Now let those feeling out through dance!
Also it is more about connecting with yourself and moving how feels good.
emotional_soup_88@programming.dev · 1 pts · 156d
Well, if channeling negative energy through dance is a thing, then maybe I could give it another try. But I feel silly and embarrassed just by imagining it. :(
Krauerking@lemy.lol · 1 pts · 156d
I mean you don't head bang cause you like the brain damage.
People mostly dance to get off emotions. The best ballet is when it is with a feeling behind it. Just watch the Olympics figure skaters during the gala when they get to perform however they want.
I enjoy doing jazz hands. I don't care if it looks silly.
sad_detective_man@sopuli.xyz · 2 pts · 157d
ScrambledEggs@lazysoci.al · 2 pts · 157d
Like literally? That's kinda how I dance and I'm dangerous on the dance floor, literally.
PiraHxCx@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 157d
like this? https://pirahxcx.neocities.org/blog/Destrudo%20-%2010%20Anos%20De%20Underground%20&%20Decep%C3%A7%C3%B5es.mp4
Krauerking@lemy.lol · 1 pts · 157d
Better than I have seen from most people lately, even at concerts.
PiraHxCx@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 157d
I wrote more about it here https://pirahxcx.neocities.org/journal#2026-03-10