Is dancing all glitz and glamour on the dancefloor?
When someone mentions dancing what images does it conjure up?
Dad dancing at a wedding?
The glamour of the 1940s Hollywood films with Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire?
Cool and funky street dance / pop videos
Immaculate and elegant ballerinas?
The showy and glitzy props of Strictly Come Dancing?
Outwardly dance is seen as a glamourous art, with perfectly formed dancers, looking immaculate even after hours of dancing, and putting on an inspiring show.
Underneath we know that it’s down to hard work, aches and pains, and that dancers put their bodies through agony in achieving what they do. On a busy social dancing floor, hazards include stood on feet
The type of dancing I go to is definitely not all glitz and glamour.
Venues can be pimped up with gorgeous balloons, decorations and lighting, and some are beautiful venues in the first instance. Some schools have historic features in their halls, Oxford Town Hall is beautiful, and the Tower Ballroom Blackpool is obviously the birthplace of dance. And there are occasions where you want to dress up a bit.
A ball or posh freestyle event requires a bit more effort…in the past my local ceroc franchise would hold posh balls at a lovely hotel, and it was certainly right for a black tie occasion. That was also back in the day when I used to dance in 3 inch heels all night, something I really can’t do any more now I’m used to 1.8 inch west coast swing heels. Dancing modern jive in a long dress is certainly a skill to be mastered, but I just prefer being in trousers. There’s a lot less worrying about legs on show or more if you spin a lot in a shorter skirt. (note to those wearing a short flippy skirt – either wear it tight, or wear big pants…or it’s like a car crash and everyone stares for the wrong reasons).
For a freestyle a bit of a smarter top might be found in the wardrobe for a bit of sparkle, but jeans are certainly my staple. A bit more make up may be applied.
But by half way through the night my make up’s probably sweated off, I’m red in the face (however fit I am at the time), and I’m feeling hot and in need of a change of top if there’s no fans or outside air blowing through the venue.
Maybe I’m not the prime example of a glamourous girl. There are some girls who end 4 hours of dancing looking the same as they started out. I’m jealous of them, and I definitely need some hints and tips from them. Not dancing isn’t really an option.
For me, I leave a dance feeling exhilarated but looking bedraggled. Let’s hope the grin from enjoying the music and dancing is what other people notice rather than the wild hair and flushed face.
My top tips for keeping cool(er):
- Fan – find the one on the dance floor if there is one, and a hand fan
- Towel or flannel to dry off and retire to the cloakroom to change if required
- Soft drinks – a lot
- Cool clothing – looser top that floats and moves, or double up with a vest and top floaty layer (I’m assuming girls for these). Guys, I’ve heard t-shirt with shirt on top works well to avoid too much sweaty back syndrome
- Dance blues instead of fast modern jive!
Are you still looking fresh by the end of the evening or do you look like you’ve had a work out? How do you manage it?
