Accepting Compliments Gracefully

DanceMentor

DanceMentor

Administrator
This is a hard topic for me to even start, because I feel like I may sound arrogant for even bringing it up. Please don't take it that way.

Very often people come up to me and tell me things like:
"You and your wife are so wonderful to watch."
"You are simply amazing."
etc.

Usually, I just smile and say, "Thank you very much." And usually, I feel inclined to move along rather than continue a conversation about how great I am. :lol:

Am I crazy for feeling funny about these compliments?
What do you do?
 
I'm not a pro, but I usually say, "I'm glad you enjoyed it."

What makes it interesting is the number of times people think that I'm dancing with a romantic partner... when in reality we had just met. Now THAT is sometimes uncomfortable.
 
Why should it be uncomfortable etchuck, and why would people think that you are arrogant DM. When I read at Mass I get people complimenting me on the way I read. I say thanks, I do my best so the community can get the meaning of the reading, and just not the words. My intent, honesty, and straightforwardness rings true and thus it goes smoothly and gracefully.

It's like dancing. I get away with murder on the dance floor, without getting labelled a sleazeball, etc etc. My intentions and that I'm just playing around on the dance floor are quite clear. How many of you would kiss a random stanger on the cheek during a dance? I do so.

My advice. Accept it and move the topic on to the person who gave you the compliment. I got the reading compliment this Sunday, and so after saying my piece I simply moved on to that person, mentioning I hadn't seen him around before, etc etc...and we had a brief and pleasant conversation about him, so he went away happy he had talked about himself, without I think even realising what happened.
 
Yes, that is good advice, Sagitta.
I do try to shift the conversation back to the person sometimes, and tell them something that I really like about them too. :)
 
I do feel extremely grateful for compliments, but I've never been comfortable accepting them in person. :oops: Just the way I grew up, I guess. Sagitta needs to conduct a two-part workshop where guys like us can learn to (1) accept compliments and (2) kiss random Salseras on the cheek. 8)

Most of the time I will simply say, "Thank you." Lately, though, my tactic has been to shift the attention to my partner -- saying something like, "Well, I had a really good partner out there who made me look good." That works particularly well if the partner is standing there, so then the conversation shifts to her. :wink: The funny thing is that many of those partners have then eaten up the compliments (from the spectator and now from me) and not felt shy about accepting them at all.... :lol:
 
I've been complimented on;

"Your aftershave smells really nice, what is it"

and thats it so far.... I guess I'm so good at dancing they're speachless :lol: :? :D
 
I've received applause when teaching a class I have demonstrated a particular move while dancing to a few bars of music.

I'm not a show dancer and wild horses wouldn't drag me on stage.

I think its gracious to accept a compliment, but when I'm dancing I don't think about how I might be seen by others; I'm totally involved with the music and my partner.
 
What do you do?
Click to expand...

pretty much as u do .. maybe kid about it when it gets too unbelievable for my taste.. maybe i'd say something like ''well.. dont thank me.. thank Creation for making me like so" :lol: ..
 
actually this is a great topic...
i have sometimes, unintentionally, faked a "surprised and flattered" look of modesty and I think it's because
- I dont want to the person to think that I don't genuinely appreciate the compliment becuase, naturally, I always do
- I don't want to convey the fact that I receive a lot or hear it "too much"
- or act as if I take my abilities for granted
- and I dont want to offer a bored "thank you dahling", like a diva
But it's not easy to do all these things, with every compliment, or do it "gracefully". Is there such a thing is "too gracefully"? I think so....

Sabor I like the idea of trying to give credit to your biological makeup, because it's really true that a lot of natural ability is related genes and/or culture and not really something we had to work at to acheive. so it's wise not to be proud about it or take it for granted, or even rub it in other people's faces, but still acknowledge it....although I'm not sure how you do that without launching into a long story, and I hate stories while I'm in the mood for dancin
:twisted:
 
I very much like the idea of turning the conversation back to them, and saying something like: "I have been amazed at how fast your dancing is coming along." or "I really like the way you do your spins."

So I try to say something like this after I briefly look them in the eye and say "Thank You".

Another approach is something along the lines of: "I've worked very hard to get this far, and I think you have come a long way yourself. Have you been practicing more lately?"
 
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