市场调研机构 YouGov 替 BBC 体育电台做了一份就男性是否跳舞的调查。在参加调查的一千名男性中，有超过三成的男性说他们几乎从来没有跳过舞。导致这一现象的原因到底是男性不会跳舞，还是他们不想跳舞？
 

Are men able to dance? Well, if I am an example, then no – I have two left feet and taking to the dance floor just fills me with dread¹. But of course, we know that most of us have the potential to throw some shapes, so what is it that's stopping us?

 

If you've ever watched glamorous² and glitzy dance shows on TV, like the BBC's Strictly³ Come Dancing, you'll know that there are men who have great dexterity⁴ and fancy footwork on the dancefloor. These professional dancers have spent years learning and performing ballroom⁵ dances such as the waltz, foxtrot and tango.

 

But for a majority of us men, we still prefer to spectate rather than participate. And according to a survey commissioned by BBC Radio 5 live, over three quarters of British men have never or rarely danced. It found that over a third of men surveyed wouldn't strut⁶ their stuff, let alone perform a paso doble, on the dancefloor because they were too embarrassed. And ten per cent said what put them off was fear of being the centre of attention, being made fun of, or being judged.

 

Women may say we have to get a grip, get on our feet and just let ourselves go! Easier said than done. But what helps is a crowded dancefloor where there is safety in numbers. And according to the survey, many men need a drink. One man questioned said, "I don't think I'm very good at it and therefore need some Dutch courage to get me on the floor."

 

One place where the alcohol is flowing is usually at a wedding, so, maybe unsurprisingly, the BBC survey found that 75% of men had previously⁷ danced at one. These are also the situations where partners of boyfriends and husbands can persuade them to move to the groove⁸ of the music! However, this is the time to witness some 'dad dancing' which is defined in the Oxford⁹ English Dictionary as: "An awkward, unfashionable, or unrestrained style of dancing to pop music, as characteristically performed by middle-aged¹⁰ or older men." Surely that's not me!

 

So let's face it, us men just need help. We need training, we need to practise and we need to lose our inhibitions. One convert, Gareth Dew, who took part in the survey, says, "I think to be able to dance you need to be able to let loose, be aware of your body and generally be more comfortable in yourself." Would you agree?  

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