Club Dancing - How?

[Seaby]

I'm not asking so I can know how to dance

Whenever I read a novel that has a character described as being 'sexy' on the dance floor or swinging their hips I start laughing because I can only imagine the dorkiest of dance moves. I have actually tried researching this subject, but I haven't found anything that tells me how one would go about dancing in a club or party setting. (Aside from what shows try to portray, but that's just moving around with their hands in the air. Is that it?)
I want to be immersed when I read but every time a club scene pops up I get disconnected because I just can't imagine it.

[DarJodo]

Firsthand experience is a useful thing.

[Seaby]

I understand that, but for a variety of reasons I don't think it's possible to visit a club to observe the dance moves. I have looked for videos but they're rather difficult to find.

[DarJodo]

Have you done much dancing?

[Seaby]

Not at all. I'm only familiar with the types of dances that contain a set of steps like ballet, ballroom, tap, etc.

[DarJodo]

If you know basic reggae steps you can dance in most clubs. It is mostly about getting lost in the movement and the flow.

[PapaDom]

I´ve been going to parties for like nine years or so, and I never saw any kind of "sexy dancing."
(More like drunk dancing.)

[thedude3445]

In my experience: clubs are a place where it's too loud to talk, too loud to think, everything is covered in smoke (unless you're in the U.S.), and everyone is too close together/too drunk to actually do any real dancing. So everyone goes wild but collectively nobody really gets what's going on. Basically nobody is dancing WELL, but some people dance in a way that is extremely attractive to those inebriated folks around them.

My social anxieties may be coloring the club experience a little poorly lol

[Seaby]

@thedude3445 @PapaDom I was guessing that was the case. Maybe sexy dancing in novels is just an unrealistic romanticization, especially since they can't portray it in anything other than vague descriptors.

[k5rakitan]

My advice is that, unless it's a huge part of your story, you don't need to put too much detail into the actual dancing but rather what makes this particular moment unique.

I've got a clubbing chapter that might help. I mark all my chapters as mature since the overall story is mature. This particular chapter has some mature content, but it's not a sex scene or anything:

Kaiba's Prostitute :: Chapter 9: Clubbing | Tapas

[Jenny-Toons]

A lot of club dancing will depend on what kind of club it is. Generally, if you're thinking about the packed clubs where everyone is on top of everyone, then yeah -- it's not so much dancing that's happening, but bumping and grinding and making eyes at someone you might find attractive.

But that's not the only club there is. Smooth Jazz clubs are a bit more low key. The music is softer, the setting isn't packed, and a certain type of person goes here: not someone who's necessarily older, but someone who doesn't want too much noise and people. In this case, and depending on the vibe the club is going for, there's little to no dancing. Rather, people are sitting down, listening to the music, and making eyes across the bar or their booths.

I'd say it'll be better to look up "clubs scenes" in older movies and compare those to "club scenes" in recent films. You can also find more scenes in music videos.

But yeah -- there's a diverse vibe when it comes to clubs.

[Seaby]

Oh, believe me, I'm not planning on including any club dancing in my work. I read your chapter, and while there's nothing wrong with your portrayal (at least, not to me) it's still the same problem. If the sentence says "they danced all night", I wouldn't be able to imagine what that means since I don't have any experience with it.

[indagold]

Clubs is just a lot of drunk people and loud music just like how highschool isn't fun and quirky. Stories like to embellish things.

[thedude3445]

Ah yeah, low key clubs are a completely different situation and also much more fun to write IMO. The atmosphere is good and the characters can actually realistically hear each other lol

[skicoak]

Outside of other's opinions of certain types of clubs...

There are absolutely people who dance sexier than others. No matter what the circumstances.

Techniques and mileage may vary from person to person but sexy dancers do exist.

[DiegoPalacios]

A tip for sexy dancing:

[nathanKmcwilliams]

Probably...don't have your characters do any of this...

and you'll be fine XD

[Kaylim]

I love going to a club and dancing all night!

When it's packed people do little more sway and grind on each other, it just looks and feels sexy bc you're drunk lmao.

But! When there's more space (so earlier in the evening and everyone isn't totally wasted yet), people can really let go and dance! Oftentimes a couple will be part of a circle of onlookers and people clapping. A lot of the times I just dance by myself! Drop it low and shake There's no coordinated movement, it's all about doing the right moves to enhance your assets ahahaha...gotta pop that booty!

If you want to see what it may look like, this music video is pretty good:

Opening scene of Queer as Folk is also pretty accurate it terms of atmosphere and dancing ability:

But if you really wanna know what sexy dancing is, look no further than the go-go dancers haha

[Kiweevil]

In my experience? Lots of jumping, ass shaking, stuff like that. My immediate reaction to dance or club-type music definitely involves the hips, but then again I've got some history with belly dancing (and a big butt, I'm not ashamed :p) I also really dig rave music. But it really depends on what type of club you're in. Some people just do this kinda weird step thing where the kinda just sway their elbows or move their shoulders, if that makes sense.

And then you've got people like my boyfriend who white boy dance. He calls it "Wasting Time", and it is both awkward and adorkable.