Comments on: Sexy Dancing: Merging Femininity and Athleticism in Dance http://addicted2salsa.com/2008/04/15/sexy-dancing-merging-femininity-and-athleticism-in-dance/ Free latin salsa dance instruction videos that teach you moves to use at the latin dance nightclub. With dancing articles, dance news, dance podcasts, salsa dance videos and forums - we try to help you become the best salsa and latin dancer you can be (as soon as possible). Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:12:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: TB http://addicted2salsa.com/2008/04/15/sexy-dancing-merging-femininity-and-athleticism-in-dance/#comment-457 TB Sat, 03 May 2008 15:05:32 +0000 http://addicted2salsa.com/2008/04/15/sexy-dancing-merging-femininity-and-athleticism-in-dance/#comment-457 As an 'official' beginner in salsa, but while dancing all my life (fourteen years of hip-hop, dancehall, dance, reggeaton, clubbing and 2 years of ballroom dancing), I am actually quite shocked to read that 'dancing' is seen as 'traditionally feminine', a stigma that I've been coming across for all my life. Understandable, because there is nothing more feminine or attractive then a fresh sweating, blushing woman with a literally hot body (high body temperature) that physically 'completely' surrenders (follows) to the movements of the leading masculinity in an intimate and sensual interaction between two entities. But as dance (any dance whatsoever) is communication, a spin-off of natural mating rituals and a means to express emotions, there is as much masculinity and athleticism (that are two different concepts) as there is femininity. In social-psychology ‘femininity’ is basically defined as ‘relationship aimed’ and ‘masculinity’ as ‘goal obtaining aimed’. Both males and females have feminine behaviour as well as masculine behaviour, and each individual leans a little more to the feminine or masculine side. Dancing is, perhaps the perfect, combinative interaction of both, as a constant process of Yin and Yang following each other up; battling each other and thus becoming one entity in the dancing ritual. So ‘masculinity in doing something that is traditionally feminine’ is impossible. Dance is traditionally most likely masculine, it is the male that asks the female to dance, to impress and seduce the female (and other females that are looking) with his skill of leadership and determination, to show that he is the strongest mating partner for her offspring, that he will take good care of her and her offspring. Dance is impregnated with more masculinity of goal obtainment then any other ‘sports’: direct contact with the subconscious hidden agenda of mating. And females accept the dance, to see if the male can walk the talk, to maintain relationship with the male in case one day he actually is able to become that best mating partner, to share emotions, and most important: to show off her femininity to the dancing partner and all males that are looking: I am the best female mating partner on the floor. Something you cannot and will not communicate with all the fluffy ‘feminine’ hairspray styling, make-up, high heels and sparkles in the world. The purer the dance, the closer it is to the roots of it, the more masculinity that originates from it (the showing-off to females), can be found. But, hip-hop, dancehall, ‘African dance’ (almost all dances are spin-offs from African dances), are by no means only ‘masculine’ dances. Since here also, in the reactions of the female on the challenges of the males, extreme high levels of feminine reactions can be found. As an ‘official’ beginner in salsa, but while dancing all my life (fourteen years of hip-hop, dancehall, dance, reggeaton, clubbing and 2 years of ballroom dancing), I am actually quite shocked to read that ‘dancing’ is seen as ‘traditionally feminine’, a stigma that I’ve been coming across for all my life. Understandable, because there is nothing more feminine or attractive then a fresh sweating, blushing woman with a literally hot body (high body temperature) that physically ‘completely’ surrenders (follows) to the movements of the leading masculinity in an intimate and sensual interaction between two entities. But as dance (any dance whatsoever) is communication, a spin-off of natural mating rituals and a means to express emotions, there is as much masculinity and athleticism (that are two different concepts) as there is femininity. In social-psychology ‘femininity’ is basically defined as ‘relationship aimed’ and ‘masculinity’ as ‘goal obtaining aimed’. Both males and females have feminine behaviour as well as masculine behaviour, and each individual leans a little more to the feminine or masculine side. Dancing is, perhaps the perfect, combinative interaction of both, as a constant process of Yin and Yang following each other up; battling each other and thus becoming one entity in the dancing ritual.

So ‘masculinity in doing something that is traditionally feminine’ is impossible. Dance is traditionally most likely masculine, it is the male that asks the female to dance, to impress and seduce the female (and other females that are looking) with his skill of leadership and determination, to show that he is the strongest mating partner for her offspring, that he will take good care of her and her offspring. Dance is impregnated with more masculinity of goal obtainment then any other ‘sports’: direct contact with the subconscious hidden agenda of mating. And females accept the dance, to see if the male can walk the talk, to maintain relationship with the male in case one day he actually is able to become that best mating partner, to share emotions, and most important: to show off her femininity to the dancing partner and all males that are looking: I am the best female mating partner on the floor. Something you cannot and will not communicate with all the fluffy ‘feminine’ hairspray styling, make-up, high heels and sparkles in the world.

The purer the dance, the closer it is to the roots of it, the more masculinity that originates from it (the showing-off to females), can be found. But, hip-hop, dancehall, ‘African dance’ (almost all dances are spin-offs from African dances), are by no means only ‘masculine’ dances. Since here also, in the reactions of the female on the challenges of the males, extreme high levels of feminine reactions can be found.

]]> By: DanyJ-ScarletMambo http://addicted2salsa.com/2008/04/15/sexy-dancing-merging-femininity-and-athleticism-in-dance/#comment-453 DanyJ-ScarletMambo Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:38:09 +0000 http://addicted2salsa.com/2008/04/15/sexy-dancing-merging-femininity-and-athleticism-in-dance/#comment-453 I had this same exact conversation with my partner, Camila, yesterday during dance practice. We had dance rehearsal in a moderately warm studio and Camila developed a sweat towards the end of the practice. So she started complaining about it because she said that it was very uncomfortable to feel sweaty. I tried to convince her that it is natural to sweat during a workout session or during practice. But she continued to express that it wasn't sexy or womanly to look "disheveled". This cracked me up very much. I explained to her that under certain circumstances it is very sexy for a woman to "look" sweaty and slightly unkempt, for example, in a dance club or during dance practice. "I need to go freshen up. I don't care!", she replied. She is such a diva. Whatever. My two cents: Girls, we don't care if you sweat or have messy hair. As long as basic hygiene is observed, nobody cares. Salsa is a sport. I had this same exact conversation with my partner, Camila, yesterday during dance practice.

We had dance rehearsal in a moderately warm studio and Camila developed a sweat towards the end of the practice. So she started complaining about it because she said that it was very uncomfortable to feel sweaty. I tried to convince her that it is natural to sweat during a workout session or during practice. But she continued to express that it wasn’t sexy or womanly to look “disheveled”. This cracked me up very much.

I explained to her that under certain circumstances it is very sexy for a woman to “look” sweaty and slightly unkempt, for example, in a dance club or during dance practice. “I need to go freshen up. I don’t care!”, she replied. She is such a diva.

Whatever.

My two cents: Girls, we don’t care if you sweat or have messy hair. As long as basic hygiene is observed, nobody cares. Salsa is a sport.

]]> By: Anthony Persaud http://addicted2salsa.com/2008/04/15/sexy-dancing-merging-femininity-and-athleticism-in-dance/#comment-449 Anthony Persaud Thu, 17 Apr 2008 06:00:15 +0000 http://addicted2salsa.com/2008/04/15/sexy-dancing-merging-femininity-and-athleticism-in-dance/#comment-449 I'm sure we can make salsa a more mainstream sport if we had a "2008 Salsera Illustrated Sexy-Dance-Feet Calendar". I’m sure we can make salsa a more mainstream sport if we had a “2008 Salsera Illustrated Sexy-Dance-Feet Calendar”.

]]> By: Julie http://addicted2salsa.com/2008/04/15/sexy-dancing-merging-femininity-and-athleticism-in-dance/#comment-447 Julie Wed, 16 Apr 2008 01:07:55 +0000 http://addicted2salsa.com/2008/04/15/sexy-dancing-merging-femininity-and-athleticism-in-dance/#comment-447 Daniel, that's funny, I was just having that discussion with a friend. Apart from "dance" being traditionally feminine, SALSA in particular seems to be an exception, allowing guys to express their masculinity. We also came up with African dance and Hip Hop as other "masculine" dances. What are your thoughts on the topic? (cough cough....maybe we should start a forum thread ;-)) Daniel, that’s funny, I was just having that discussion with a friend. Apart from “dance” being traditionally feminine, SALSA in particular seems to be an exception, allowing guys to express their masculinity. We also came up with African dance and Hip Hop as other “masculine” dances. What are your thoughts on the topic? (cough cough….maybe we should start a forum thread ;-))

]]> By: Daniel Ellis http://addicted2salsa.com/2008/04/15/sexy-dancing-merging-femininity-and-athleticism-in-dance/#comment-444 Daniel Ellis Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:27:25 +0000 http://addicted2salsa.com/2008/04/15/sexy-dancing-merging-femininity-and-athleticism-in-dance/#comment-444 That's a great perspective. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the counterpoint....masculinity in doing something that is traditionally feminine (dance). That’s a great perspective. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the counterpoint….masculinity in doing something that is traditionally feminine (dance).

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