How to dance like a male exotic dancer
Exotic Male Dancing, Flirting and Workout Secrets Revealed
Los Angeles, CA – July 23, 2015: Five of the Hollywood Men who are personal trainers are interviewed by Gillian Francella, a writer for Men’s Health magazine and MensHealth.com. Each man reveals his secrets about exotic dancing moves, flirting technique and workout routines.
What got you into exotic male dancing?
Andre
A friend of mine brought me to a club and the owner put me on stage telling me to entertain the crowd. I didn’t know how to dance so I showed my muscles and body and got a great reaction from the girls and the entire crowd. The energy that I have felt was incredibly powerful. From that day I wanted to improve more and more to be a great performer studying and practicing.
Brian
I started dancing at a really young age in high school. I’ve always been a performer from a young age. I love being on stage. So being with The Hollywood Men came natural. I started by performing for America’s Got Talent and the rest is history. You can read more on IMDb.
David
I started break dancing at 13 years old because I thought it was cool and I also wanted to get all the girls. Then I started stripping at 26 because my girlfriend of 12 years cheated on me & broke my heart so I thought it would help get me through the hard time which it did.
Sarge
I have a rather largo ego. What man doesn’t enjoy being the center of attention for hundreds of women every week?
Did you ever have a body part you were concerned with on stage? How did you train to improve/work with it?
Andre
Yes I did. My legs were skinnier and I have always felt uncomfortable showing my weakest part. Thank god for me that period was only for few months because I have started training then hard mailing them grow a lot.
Best exercises to build my legs were definitely the squats, lounges and dead lifts.
Brian
I focus on training my legs because they are seen a lot. Don’t get me wrong, I already have good looking legs but I just wanted them to look better! I also train more on my back as well.
David
I wouldn’t say concerned but I aim to have nice abs & a great ass! Those are the money makers if you ask me.
Sarge
Yes, my legs. Not all male dancers are 6’3″. When a dancer is shorter, their center of gravity tends to make it easier to bend and perform dance movements. Tall men want good posture on stage. It is somewhat of a contradiction. Therefore, I focus on strengthening my legs and improving my overall flexibility. Hip/hop Jazz classes have also improved my performance abilities.
What is your diet like?
Andre
Because I have a pretty fast metabolism I burn lots of calories a day even without working out.
My diet is very specific and it’s based largely on the amount of calories a day. Carbs, fats and proteins are in line with my daily nutrients that my body needs. I also change my diet protocol according to my workout plan that can be modified to gain weight or to get leaner. I like organic and healthy food like potatoes, rice, lean meat, fish and green veggies.
Brian
My diet is the same as if I were competing on stage. I eat 6 meals a day every 3 hours. It consists of 8 ounces of chicken and either 7 ounces of purple sweet potato or white rice. I know it sounds kinda boring but I love the results!
David
I’m very fortunate to eat whatever I want. I dance & workout pretty much everyday so my diet is based off what day of the week it is. For example Sunday through Wednesday is high carbs & protein with as much cheats as I please based off of any other cardio activities I may do. Thursday through Saturday is lean & clean so I look tight for our shows and I never miss my gallon of water a day either.
I counter everything I see through the mirror.
Sarge
My diet is VERY STRICT. 6 days a week I consume primarily organic grilled chicken and turmeric and/or brown rice. I give myself 1 cheat day to eat what I enjoy. This, however, never includes fast food. The sun creates the food that resonates with my body.
What is your typical fitness routine like?
Andre
- Monday: Chest and Triceps
- Tuesday: Quads and Glutes
- Wednesday: Back and Biceps
- Thursday: off
- Friday: Shoulders and Calves
- Saturday: Hamstrings and Arms
- Sunday: off
I like changing my routines every week to stimulate and surprise my body and get all benefits I need.
Brian
My normal fitness routine involves training 6 days a week, sometimes twice a day. I do 30 minutes of cardio and 20 minutes of abs before I start my main body part workout.
If I go back for my second workout in one day, it’s usually cardio and abs for an hour.
David
7 days a week of training unless I am busy or sick. I workout anywhere from 1 to 4 times a day. If I train 3 times on a Monday I will prob train once on Tuesday & then twice on Wednesday and 4 on Thursday and back to 1 on Friday. I’m addicted! I workout with a lot of my clients most of them prefer it. It sounds crazy but every workout is different based off their goals. I used to be very systematic with my training and that got very boring becoming hard to see change. Now I have no plan I just listen to my body. Lift heavy if I feel skinny, do more plyo’s if I feel fat, eat more or eat less. Control!
Sarge
I work out 6 days per week. One body part per day is my focus. I stretch 7 days per week. During my day off, I enjoy hiking Fryman Canyon or running the Santa Monica Stairs. I do a little cardio every day to get the toxins out and the endorphins flowing.
Do you have a favorite workout?
Andre
Yes – chest and legs.
Brian
My favorite workout is anything that trains my abs, my favorite body part to work out! I have to keep my 8 pack tight.
David
I love all workouts! Body building to TRX & Bosu and I even teach Zumba. But my happy place is trail running I love the challenge of pain & sacrifice it takes to run up hills.
Sarge
I enjoy getting outside and working my legs. The show is 2 hours. I run the hills and stairs to gain endurance and train my breathing patterns.
When you’re not performing on stage as a male stripper, do you have any signature dance moves you work when frequenting bars/clubs in your personal time?
Andre
No I don’t. What I do on stage stays on stage. I don’t exaggerate any move because I don’t want to look like a clown in a normal contest.
Brian
I’m not big on going out unless I’m already at work. So my moves stay at work.
David
Well I go by “Doorway Dave” which means I pretty much dance wherever I hear music. So as far as signature moves go, I would say a moonwalk from a pelvic thrust & a booty pop. I hope to be the 1st break dancing male stripper!
Sarge
Ha! That would be cheesy. I do, however, love to go out dancing. It’s a way of relaxing for me.
Does a girl have to be a good dancer for you to approach her? How do you show you have skill without intimidating the average girl?
Andre
Not necessarily. I use my smile and the eye contact and of course I invite her to the show so she can see my dance moves.
Brian
I appreciate a girl that can dance because it makes her look sexier. I’m not really the type of guy who goes up to women.
They usually come to me .. I mean the ones that aren’t intimidated by my dancing.
David
She definitely has to have some rhythm in her or at least not be to shy to try. I don’t hold back when I dance so the real question is what type of dance should I do for a specific girl meaning style of music. Maybe I would just wait for the right song not to intimidate her.
Sarge
Women need to be themselves. Love what God gave you. Honesty and integrity are very important to me. It always comes full circle.
Do you have any pick up lines or flirting techniques that have solid results?
Andre
I like being very classy, mysterious and at the same time passionate. Definitely my manners and education help.
Brian
I have no cheesy pick up lines. I just compliment a woman.
David
Just honesty & being myself.
If you are the one for me it should feel natural to talk to you. I don’t have time to chase girls.
Sarge
I like to ask women to go hiking with me. It’s a great activity and creates time and space for conversation.
Do you ever lead with the fact you’re an exotic male dancer? If not, how do you work it into conversation? Do you wait until a hookup becomes something more serious before bringing it up?
Andre
I’m always honest bringing up my job so everything there is never a misunderstanding. I like being clear and straight forward. Hopefully girls will like what I do and trust me.
David
Most of the time they know. I kinda look like a stripper all the time. I used to try to keep it low key unless asked but now I wouldn’t hide it because I feel it’s an honor to be living in LA dancing for The Hollywood Men. Dancing & Fitness are my life so if someone can’t handle that I’m not the guy for them.
Sarge
Visually, they can sometimes figure it out on their own. I may slowly bring it up in a conversation. If they ask, I am always honest. I always say to let people be who they are. Respect one another. Women don’t need to get “twisted” about having the “perfect body” around me. I appreciate a woman who is confident in her own skin .. and I love a woman’s curves.
Is there anything else surprising about your health/fitness/love life that you want to share? Or any good stories from past hookups/relationships?
David
I would do this for free if I never had to work again. I’ve been married and I’ve never had a one night stand in my life even though you can imagine the opportunity is there.
Do you have a signature dance move on stage?
Andre
Booty shake.
David
Moonwalk, body & booty pops.
I almost forgot my lean.
How do you channel your move off the stage? Is it all about eye contact? A particular line? A way of walking toward her/approaching conversation?
Andre
Eye contact is very important in order to have intelligent conversation. I like being well read and charming. Girls love that.
David
My moves come natural so I wouldn’t say I think about them. Eye contact is the most important factor when it comes to getting someone’s attention. If you want to get my attention look at me in the eyes and move with a smooth strut or a bit of swagger when you walk. Eye contact & body language is key!
What about a signature song? Is there any song/style of music in particular you turn on that helps lighten the mood and get things heated up?
Andre
Latin songs and some R&B especially for those intimate moments. Passion and good energies are the key for my songs.
David
Any woman that has ever dated me knows I love to dance to R&B baby makin music. I will dance to any kind but that’s what I prefer.
Do you have any suggestions or tips that the average guy should channel for confidence when he’s trying to catch a girl’s attention?
Andre
I suggest he improve his vocabulary and manners.
David
My advice for a guy to feel more confident about him self is to use his skills, likes & good qualities to his advantage. Before you try use a strategy that you get from someone else try to assess your life & improve anything you don’t feel good about.
Any suggestions for the rhythmically-challenged men that can’t dance?
Andre
Just don’t dance … lol … Never show the weakest side of yourself.
David
If you can’t dance I can teach you! Contact Doorway Dave or subscribe to my You Tube channel for help on health, fitness & entertainment.
The Male Exotic Dancers of Hunk-A-Mania on Their Grooming Routines
The Male Exotic Dancers of Hunk-A-Mania on Their Grooming Routines The CutPhoto: iStockphoto
Last Saturday night, I did the kind of intrepid backstage reporting I never thought I would as a beauty editor: I went behind the scenes at New York City’s Hunk-A-Mania show to find out about the grooming regimens of male strippers (this, of course, in honor of Gratuitous Male Objectification Week on The Cut). The scene: lots of incredibly fit dudes oiling up their pecs and abs — Johnson’s Baby Oil is a favorite lubricant — and a fair amount of bare booties. Although it was incredibly hard to concentrate — the thumping music in the background being the least of the distractions — what became very clear is that these guys are serious performers (albeit the beefed-up, wearing-nothing-but-tiny-underpants kind).
That said, they know how to look good onstage. While most guys follow a Male Stripper 101 regimen of body oil (see above) and assiduous manscaping (shaving at home with an electric razor is preferred over waxing), there were a few surprises, like taking “restorative” cold showers and gulping down cartons of egg whites. As “Jones,” a veteran performer of fourteen years, told me, “You want to be a fantasy.” Click through to see more tried-and-true beautification staples from the Hunk-A-Mania set.
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Photo: Kevin Davidson
Photo: unknown
Carton of Egg Whites "Eating is very important to us! Before the show, I'll drink egg whites for the protein." - Christian, 29, Queens,... Carton of Egg Whites "Eating is very important to us! Before the show, I'll drink egg whites for the protein.
" - Christian, 29, Queens, NY Crystal Farms All White Egg Whites, $4.49, Online
Aromappeal Sweet Almond Oil "Ten to 20 minutes before the show starts, I’ll put this oil on. It’s nice and thick, gives off a good shine tha... Aromappeal Sweet Almond Oil "Ten to 20 minutes before the show starts, I’ll put this oil on. It’s nice and thick, gives off a good shine that will show off my muscles more, plus it lasts longer." - Christian Aromappeal Sweet Almond Oil, 2 for $9.99, Online Photo: Kevin Davidson
got2b Glued Styling Spiking Glue "This just really works the best for my hair." - James, 24, Long Island, NY got2b Glued Styl... got2b Glued Styling Spiking Glue "This just really works the best for my hair." - James, 24, Long Island, NY got2b Glued Styling Spiking Glue, $5.99, Drug stores
Dove Men+Care Active Clean Shower Tool "I like to shower and clean with this loofah.
" - James Dove Men+Care Active Clean Show... Dove Men+Care Active Clean Shower Tool "I like to shower and clean with this loofah." - James Dove Men+Care Active Clean Shower Tool, $3.99, Drug stores
Personal Care Petroleum Jelly "I'll put this on my body before the show, but I'll also put a little in my hair to smooth that down." - ... Personal Care Petroleum Jelly "I'll put this on my body before the show, but I'll also put a little in my hair to smooth that down." - Milano, 22, New York, NY Personal Care Petroleum Jelly, $2.50, Online
Dove Men+Care Deodorant "I use Dove Men, the fragrance is very good and it’s not too strong. The ladies tend to like that because having a r... Dove Men+Care Deodorant "I use Dove Men, the fragrance is very good and it’s not too strong. The ladies tend to like that because having a really loud cologne can really give you bad migraine or mess with your sinuses.
" - DQ, 27, Bronx, NY Dove Men+Care Deodorant, $3.97, Drug stores
Johnson's Baby Oil "This oil is really thin and it doesn’t clog up the pores. The thicker oils will make you sweat more." - DQ ... Johnson's Baby Oil "This oil is really thin and it doesn’t clog up the pores. The thicker oils will make you sweat more." - DQ Johnson's Baby Oil, $3.84, Target
A Cold Shower "I always take cold showers because it increases the Chi in the body and rebuilds all of the cells. And if you think back to 1... A Cold Shower "I always take cold showers because it increases the Chi in the body and rebuilds all of the cells. And if you think back to 1000 years ago, there were no hot showers. I started doing this a few years ago, and I feel like it works really well for me. I don’t use chemicals, so no soap." - Jean-Louis, 39, Jersey City, NY Photo: unknown
Alba Botanica Cocoa Butter Hand & Body Lotion "I don’t use oils because it gets stuck in my pores and it makes me sweat too much, so I u.
.. Alba Botanica Cocoa Butter Hand & Body Lotion "I don’t use oils because it gets stuck in my pores and it makes me sweat too much, so I use cocoa butter instead because it makes my skin shiny, but it doesn’t leave a stain or a mark on the girls’ clothes." - Jean-Louis Alba Botanica Hawaiian Cocoa Butter Hand & Body Lotion, $10.50, Alba Botanica
Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion SPF 55 "I don’t use a tanning booth, but I do love the summer and being in natural sunligh... Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion SPF 55 "I don’t use a tanning booth, but I do love the summer and being in natural sunlight. I actually use kid’s sunscreen because it has less chemicals." - Jean-Louis Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion SPF 55, $9.99, Drug stores
Philips Norelco BG2030 Professional BodyGrooming System "I’ll do the grooming process about once a week.
I can’t stand body hair, I think it... Philips Norelco BG2030 Professional BodyGrooming System "I’ll do the grooming process about once a week. I can’t stand body hair, I think it’s disgusting. So what I’ll do is take an electric razor and start from the knuckles on my toes and go all the way up. The only thing that stays are your eye lashes and brows, and if you have facial hair, that’ll stay too. If you have any butt hair, you got to remove that. And you can’t have anything in your privates. You don’t want to be what they have back at home, so the hairy belly, underarms, and hairy legs, you have to get rid of all that. You want to be as smooth as clean as possible. Flawless. Women, when they touch you, the first they say is, "Oh, you’re so smooth"." - Jones, 33, Brooklyn, NY Philips Norelco BG2030 Professional BodyGrooming System, $44.99. Online
Nautica Blue Shower Gel "When you shower, I’ll be use a loofah to exfoliate.
I like a Nautica showerl gel, or any of that sporty stuff that ... Nautica Blue Shower Gel "When you shower, I’ll be use a loofah to exfoliate. I like a Nautica showerl gel, or any of that sporty stuff that comes with a cologne." - Jones Nautica Blue Shower Gel, $12.20, Online
Mitchum Deodorant "Mitchum deodorant works for my body. I’ve been using it for 7 years. I couldn’t care about the fragrance, it just does wh... Mitchum Deodorant "Mitchum deodorant works for my body. I’ve been using it for 7 years. I couldn’t care about the fragrance, it just does what it’s supposed to like stops me from sweating and having body odor." - Jones Mitchum Advanced Control deodorant, $3.99, Mitchum
In-salon Body Waxing Treatment "I basically make sure that before the shows, which is every Friday, that I wax my chest, abs, everywhere. I ... In-salon Body Waxing Treatment "I basically make sure that before the shows, which is every Friday, that I wax my chest, abs, everywhere.
I just go to any salon in the city." - Andres, 26, New York, NY
Chanel Bleu de Chanel "I wear this cologne everyday. It's my favorite, it suits me, and I feel like it’s a part of me now." - Andres ... Chanel Bleu de Chanel "I wear this cologne everyday. It's my favorite, it suits me, and I feel like it’s a part of me now." - Andres Bleu de Chanel Eau de Toilette, $79, Chanel
Keune Forming Wax "This a good wax. It styles my hair and doesn’t make it hard, like gel hardens your hair, but this keeps it soft and holds... Keune Forming Wax "This a good wax. It styles my hair and doesn’t make it hard, like gel hardens your hair, but this keeps it soft and holds my hair together." - Andres Keune Forming Wax, $17.09, Online
The Body Shop Satsuma Beautifying Oil "For the show and everyday i use the Satsuma oil. It smells awesome.
" - Andres Th... The Body Shop Satsuma Beautifying Oil "For the show and everyday i use the Satsuma oil. It smells awesome." - Andres The Body Shop Satsuma Beautifying Oil, $14, The Body Shop
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A exotic pole dance teacher about the complexities of the most feminine pole dance
Anna Parfenova has been living and teaching the art of exotic dance in Moscow for three years now, she is a pro in her field and a winner of international festivals.
But when Anya accidentally met the pylon in Vladimir, it was far from the heights. The pole dance industry was just beginning to develop, and the girl back in 2013 was not as physically strong as she is now. This happened after the university, when the future dancer graduated from the Vladimir philological faculty.
“Sport was instilled from childhood, I did rhythmic gymnastics for about seven years. Often people who exercised as a child, and in adulthood, try to find suitable physical activity for themselves. It so happened that I met a pole coach. I don't have any super stories that I wanted to do just that. The choice is rather dictated by a combination of circumstances.
Anya no longer remembers why she took a liking to pole dancing. She attended one class, then went to train at another school. Only sensations remained in memory. Samples of pole dance were given to the girl with difficulty, special abilities were also not observed. Many girls, says Anya, made progress much faster and honed the elements.
“At first I was engaged in pole dance, which is danced not on heels and consists almost entirely of tricks. I didn’t have enough strength to pull myself up somewhere, I was afraid to hang upside down. In fact, these are common fears among beginners. Over time, everything is developed, but pole dance is not as simple as it seems. Each direction has its own nuances. For example, you need good coordination, memory, stretching and pumped up muscles.
In order to achieve a result, Anya was ready to wait. Often, girls who want to move beautifully on the pylon find themselves captivated by alluring pictures from the Internet, and in a real workout they despair and give up what they started. But Anya was ready to invest her strength, time and money in her development. It took the girl more than three years to reach a sufficient level of ownership of exotic dance!
“There is some point, after passing which you can conditionally classify yourself as a professional.
All this is very relative. The main thing is to develop and show your strengths. For me, this is a stretch, it looks spectacular, and it seems that I have reached a high level in this. But I won’t be good at complex power elements. Any pro has his weaknesses, and this is absolutely normal, we are all human. Superheroes don't exist."
The first performances are not always successful. As Anya explains, showing oneself at specialized championships means gaining experience, especially when you are a beginner. Before the jury appear dancers in different categories and with different baggage of knowledge. That is, the first few championships, the girls carefully observe what is happening and learn:
“There are certain protocols with clauses. If you have worked through each of them, then it is possible to take a good place. If you are just dancing a beautiful choreography, but have not thought through the image, then the overall score will be lower. In addition, during the first performances you feel awkward on stage, but then you get used to it and prepare for the competition purposefully.
”
A year and a half after the start of training, Anya decided to retrain and go to exotic pole dance. This is a more passionate offshoot of pole dancing, where a good stretch can go a long way. Another fundamental difference between exotics is the presence of high-heeled shoes, that is, strips. The femininity of the dance attracted the girl.
“Without the experience of walking in heels, it will probably be hard at first. Although I have never met girls for whom this task is insurmountable. Dance shoes vary in heel height and platform, there are four options. For beginners, the lowest ones are suitable: a five-centimeter platform and a fifteen-centimeter heel. Let's take it higher. It doesn’t hurt to stand on them, except that during a performance, through negligence, you can hurt yourself with a heel.
These are stage shoes, the girl clarifies, and dancers don’t walk around in them just like that - it’s uncomfortable.
Immediately after the performance, they remove their weapons, and put on ordinary clothes over the costume (often revealing). In underwear and high heels in real life, no one walks around, only to maintain the image in the framework of competitions or photo shoots.
“Whatever one may say, exotic came from striptease, although in the dancers' party they don't like to remember this. We want to separate ourselves from the vulgar part of all this, when they want to offend our dance, compare it with a striptease in a not very pleasant context. Shoes came from there, but there is another important point. In exotic pole dance, there are elements when you need to slide with the tips of your toes, stand on them, and pull your foot. In front, at the very edge of the platform of the shoes, there is a special beveled part, thanks to which we do not damage the fingers.”
Shoes are a tool for expressing exotic vocabulary, Anya says. Almost like ballerinas, pole dancers stand on their toes, creating a beautiful leg line without a break.
Can you imagine girls in pointe shoes dancing pole dance? Well, that's why they work in heels.
“I liked that exotic is a combination of dance choreography and sports tricks. Two years after changing my profile, I started teaching in Vladimir, it was 2015. At that time, the level of awareness of the townspeople was low, the direction was just in its infancy. To be objective, my level was not very good either, but since the pros in the city could be counted on the fingers, and the girls wanted to study, the students who achieved some results became teachers.
Anya always had a good stretch, which would not interfere with future dancers, so the director of the local school asked her to teach beginners. Now she does not come to Vladimir often, for the sake of master classes, because in 2017 the girl moved to live in Moscow. At first, Anya worked in the office, while training in parallel to pump up her skills to the capital level, but a year later she finally moved to the position of a coach and now she does only what she loves:
“When you only do dancing, the level grows much faster.
You communicate with a large number of people, attend a greater number of professional events - you completely immerse yourself in the party, they begin to recognize you. Basically, all championships and festivals are held in Moscow, which is also convenient. Compared to Vladimir, here in terms of dance it turns out to develop faster.”
Pole dance and its offshoots are not professional sports, so it is impossible to earn official certificates and regalia. But there are associations (or parties, as Anya says) of dancers, within which you can become a queen. So, our Vladimir dancer is known in professional circles. Together with the capital's coaches, she is working on joint projects. By the way! Pole dancers have a code of ethics, following which they cannot perform in nightclubs for money.
“Therefore, who is into what much. Someone creates their own solo dance projects and performs at events where you need to show a sports or dance show. Someone additionally works in ensembles, performs in the circus.
Dance is closely related to sports, especially when it comes to the pole. By choosing such an exotic direction, Anya says, you can pump your body and self-confidence. With time, femininity, smoothness of movements will come. It doesn't matter what physical form the girl is in for her first workout. The main thing is the desire to become stronger and better. Months and years later, the dancers look at themselves in the mirror and get inspired by getting rid of the “squeezed and angular girl” complexes.
They know how to dance, riveting the attention of all those gathered in the hall.
During the quarantine period, Anya admits, she has significantly lost her shape. Some of her colleagues rested at home and did not study, but the girl tried:
“I set up a pole for myself in the country and practiced, but, of course, the atmosphere is not the same. With constant training, it will not be difficult to restore shape, however, it is unpleasant - at some points you will have to get used to it again.
Now we plan to return to work, we will continue to look at the situation. I wanted to go to the championships in Europe this year, but everything was cancelled. As soon as possible, we will apply."
For the Russian championships, everything is also sad so far, but Anya and her colleagues have already planned to participate in several competitions. Such is the interesting life of exotic pole dancers, and in some ways it resembles a sports career, don't you think?
I want to dance. 10 misconceptions about dancing
The desire to learn to dance is natural and natural in the modern world. You can list the reasons, starting with obvious and popular pragmatic desires, for example, to start moving or losing weight, ending with unconscious and even existential ones.
This is due to the fact that dancing is at the subtle intersection of the inner and outer worlds, physical and spiritual. Above this, music becomes a driver that cannot leave anyone indifferent.
In dancing there is magic inside a person, which is not always noticeable when observed from the side. At the initial stage, it is the external picture that attracts to dances, and sometimes repels, as it seems too frivolous and superficial.
But there are even stronger obstacles that stop many people from starting dancing. These illusions and delusions roam the minds of the majority, and are often afraid to ask about them directly, or they ask the question about it so often that they are no longer ready to hear an honest direct answer. I will try to do it in this article.
There are many examples of contemporary dance educators sharing their thoughts about not expecting to be in the dance industry. Once upon a time there was a man and was engaged in adult, serious business. Sometimes even very serious. A person could have children and even grandchildren. I saw dances only on stage or on TV. For reasons unknown to himself, he ended up in dances. At first, everything seemed like entertainment and a useful pastime. But time has passed, and a person catches himself thinking that he thinks about dancing not just every day, but really all the time. A couple of years pass, and he already becomes a teacher or organizer of some event.
A similar path can start at 15 or 55 years old. The only difference will be in the self-perception of the starting stage, that it’s too late to dance. In fact, for each age there is its own dance direction, which can reveal it to the greatest extent at this stage. Hip-hop or breaking is closer to children and teenagers, and Argentine tango is closer to adults. It's never too late to start dancing. You need to make the right choice of dance style based on several parameters: age, gender, music, goal. There is a dance direction for any arrangement.
Misconception 2: Men don't dance
Our culture has a number of restrictions related to dancing. Most of these causes are psychological and lie outside the realm of rational reasoning.
First, in our culture, in principle, dancing for pleasure or self-expression appeared relatively recently. 20-30 years ago dance clubs were only for children. To start dancing even in adolescence was considered exotic.
Secondly, the aesthetics of the body in our country for men is not in the focus of attention. In general, this can be attributed to the fact that Russian men try hard not to draw attention to their appearance and clothing. Men in our country use other tools for this.
Third, dancing is associated with entertainment and alcohol. If a man feels serious and respectable, then he either does not have time or desire for this.
Nowadays the general cultural background has changed and the result is that men are learning to dance. It becomes as much a sign of masculinity as clothing, hair or beard.
Unfortunately, many misconceptions remain even among those who have already started dancing. Dance teachers do not always pay attention to this, as it seems to them that this is a matter of course.
Fallacy 3: special training is needed
For an outside observer, there is always a cognitive dissonance about what dance is. What he sees on the big stage in the form of a show with sweeping movements and splits is obviously dancing. Breakers doing unimaginable elements in the air and on their hands, competing with each other, also seem to be dancing. Pensioners in the park waltz. Dancing again, but for some reason everyone is so different. How to understand that this is a dance, and what physical criteria should be in the body.
In fact, any self-expression through the body to music can be attributed to dance. There are a number of reservations, but they are not essential. For self-expression, a person uses the set of plastics that he has. Subtlety and technique do not depend on extreme ways of self-expression, and it often happens that splits and somersaults interfere with a meaningful dance. The development of plasticity and the expansion of the body's capabilities are part of the preparation of the dancer, but not an end in itself.
Misconception 4: You must learn to dance in pairs
In couple dancing, the final learning outcome is that the couple dances at a party. It would seem that you should always train together to get the desired result. This is not true. Let's take an example from boxing. An indicator of a boxer's skill is a fight with an opponent, but this does not mean that he constantly has to fight. Also, the ability to dance is built on the possession of one's own body and the ability to interact.
The skill of the teacher is the correct selection of methods so that the student masters the skill. Based on the skill, you can engage in creativity and self-expression in dance. Not everyone knows, but it is no coincidence that almost all social dance dancers have a serious dance background, which is based on the development of individual techniques.
The same can be attributed to the interaction in a pair. The ability to separate in oneself the one who leads and the one who follows the lead is impossible within the framework of studying the sequence of movements in pairs. For this, there are special exercises that make the skill more versatile. For this, the presence of a permanent couple is not necessary, as well as the regular presence of a partner in general.
IMPORTANT! You can’t experiment at a party, and everything should be in its place there: men dance with women.
Getting rid of illusions is a complex internal process. If you leave them to yourself, you can even get the opposite result.
Misconception 5: plastique and stretching are obligatory attributes of dance
Much depends on the genre of dance that you want to master. In previous articles, I have already mentioned that different dance styles are suitable for different ages. It is appropriate to dance hip-hop in adolescence or youth, Argentine tango is a more adult dance, it is important to enter classical choreography at a young age.
The degree of necessary plasticity and sensitivity to the dance direction also correlates. For example, breaking requires great physical effort and dexterity. Elements are built on acrobatics and high speed of execution. Who are they more suitable for? Obviously young people.
There is a lot of interaction in salsa. It is necessary to feel the partner subtly, to be able to show a variety of figures and elements. Twine or acrobatics are completely inappropriate here. However, a variety of ways to show oneself are required. Accordingly, the dance is youthful, but not at all childish.
The older the dance, the less stretching or acrobatics is required. The main emphasis is on the quality of technology, the variety of ideas and the ability to show plasticity.
Misconception 6: Mirrors are necessary for learning
There is a set of instruments that dancers use to learn how to dance. The fact is that the dancer needs to receive feedback on how his movements look from the side. It is impossible to dance and see yourself from the side at the same time. The most common tool is a mirror. But not the only one.
Like any auxiliary tool, mirrors have positive and negative effects. The positive is that they can receive feedback in real time and technically it is not very difficult. The downside can be dependence on mirrors. A situation where a dancer cannot capture the feeling of dancing, such as on stage or at a party. For these purposes, you can use, among other things, video filming or proper preparation.
In many countries in Latin America, dance classrooms are not equipped with mirrors. Classes are held in bars or large halls. The dancers initially form the skill of focusing on the inner sensation, and not the habit of looking for their reflection in the mirror with their eyes.
Misconception 7: there is a lot of obsceneness in dancing
A common question from novice dancers who are taking their first steps in more contact couple dances is “in order to dance cool, there must be passion inside the couple?”. I immediately answer that no, not necessarily. Kizomba, bachata and Argentine tango attract many with their close contact. Like any other contact in our everyday life, in dances, contact can be different. We hug friends, parents, children. These hugs can wear many different shades. Sexual overtones are one of many.
The culture of dance also includes the boundaries of what is acceptable. A compliment from a well-mannered person is different from a statement about female sexuality by a gopnik. Usually, those who study at a dance school already have an idea of what boundaries should not be crossed. A good dance from a technical point of view will never look vulgar or vulgar.
Dancers always have a choice about the boundaries of contact. Most prefer to leave a good impression of themselves, as word spreads just as fast in the dance world.
Misconception 8: the best dancers are the bearers of culture
Even the very question of the origin of this or that dance can be paradoxical and ambiguous, especially when it comes to its development and performance.
For example, the Viennese waltz did not originate in Vienna, but in Germany. Salsa has its main roots in the USA, not in Cuba. The famous Greek folk dance sirtaki was invented for the film "Zorba the Greek" and appeared only in 1964.
The same can be attributed to the development of modern dance styles. Korea is known for its world-leading break dancers. People go to Turkey for Argentine tango, Spain is strong with excellent salsa and bachata dancers, in Egypt, Russians are considered the best belly-dance performers.
A good dance is based on quality training and diligence. Skin color, place of birth and age are secondary. Exotic appearance, unfortunately, is often a reason to be more superficial about one's own professional development. This becomes the reason for the low level of teaching among the bearers of culture. I am sure that few readers of this post will be ready to conduct a master class in Russian folk dance outside of Russia.
The mastery of mastering and teaching a particular style does not depend on the dancer's homeland. And "they absorbed the dance with their mother's milk" is nothing more than a common misconception.
Misconception 9: You have to know a lot of moves to learn to dance
Focusing on learning a lot of moves often detracts from the essence of dance. Of course, the sequence of figures is important. Especially at the start. Over time, the dancer should have an understanding of how movements can be generated independently. Accordingly, instead of memorizing millions of figures, you can understand how to create them.
From every system of improvisation that a dancer can use as an instrument, dozens, hundreds or thousands of variations are derived. This frees the head from trying to reproduce the exact sequence and definitely adds freedom in the performance of the dance.
The huge theme of musicality can be attributed to the same question. Not every pre-conceived or learned sequence will fit specific music. The dance should give freedom, and not drive the dancer into the shell of the ropes.
Misconception 10: dancing is homosexual
The unusually high attention to the body and the flair from stories about professional ballet led to the spread of this myth, among other things. Unfortunately, such an idea still exists in the minds of our fellow citizens.
The dance industry is now very broad and is represented by many dance styles. Some of them can even be called homophobic. Dances reflect the general attitude to the world and it is different depending on the life position and worldview of a person.
In many dances there is contact between the dancers. In Russia, dance contact between men has always been perceived very intensely. In most other countries it is different. An example of the fact that this tension is associated only with the dance theme and does not apply to other areas is, for example, wrestling. When practicing techniques, men are in much closer contact with each other. Sometimes lying on the floor and holding each other tightly.
