sharing your dance life with your work life

[Lioness]

THERE IS NOTHING MORE ATTRACTIVE THAN A MAN IN A TAILSUIT

This...so many times over.

 

[danceronice]

Unless it's a man in Latin trousers.

 

[fascination]

depends on the man

 

[TangoRocks]

I'd take an opposite view, were I a guy...people can know that I dance. In fact, if they call me unmanly, etc., I would attempt to show them that the stereotype is just so far from the actuality...I mean, spending minutes, at the very least, in full body contact with pretty women? Yeah, that's so feminine.

But maybe I'm weird...maybe I don't really know what it's like to be a guy.

When he was competing as a teen my ice dance coach took that route. He pointed out he spent 5-6 hours a day at the rink lifting a scantily-clad girl, his hockey-playing friends showered with other guys, so really...they shut up about his twinkle-toe figure skates.

I have a male dance acquaintance who took this route. His hunting buddies were giving him a hard time and when he pointed out how many hours/week he spent in full body contact with smart, beautiful women, they shut up fast.

So, great minds think alike, I suppose That is, in fact, my previously prepared fall-back position. Being Canadian males, my co-workers play and/or watch lots of hockey, so my comeback, in the case of any ribbing if my dancing is "outed" is:

"I'd rather dance full-body contact with a bunch of pretty ladies than body-check a bunch of sweaty dudes" although the wording could be modified to fit the situation, lol...

Haven't had to use it so far, but I'm sure one day I'll be in a position to utter that sentence :bouncy:

 

[tanya_the_dancer]

So suppose your dance life was "outed" somehow. Would that be a damage control time or it is possible to use it to your advantage?

 

[JudeMorrigan]

Oh, there's scarce chance of my dance-life being outed, as quick as I am to out myself. When I first started dancing, I was a bit hesitant to talk much about it. But eventually there was something I had to beg off on (might have been a poker night) and it did come out. That group was very much a relatively young-ish boys' club, so I did get a bit of good natured teasing over it, but the reaction was mostly "eh, that's cool".

These days though, hah. I find ways to bring up my dancing. I've worked for two different groups since then, and the reaction has been a pretty universal "wow, neat!", with an optional "hey, I/my wife has always wanted to learn to do that, where would we go for lessons?" I was at lunch with some management types a few months back, and when the topic of weekend plans came up, I of course mentioned the comp that I had coming up. Their reaction: "maybe you could help us out at our company Christmas party this year!"

Reading the older parts of the thread, I feel like I should note that I work in the same industry as cornutt, albeit for different companies. So I guess it does vary company to company, group to group and I should count my blessings. I hope his new job is a bit less uptight about such things.

 

[tanya_the_dancer]

Well, earlier on the thread I said I didn't think anybody would be so nosy as to search my name except me, but apparently that's not the case.

 

[Kipling]

what about being open with your co-workers that you are a dancer are you concerned would be construed as sexual harassment?

I told a woman at work that she had a dancer's arms and asked her if she danced. She told her boss that my comment made her uncomfortable. My boss told me to not make any non-work related comments at work. He said he didn't think it was necessary for me to apologize, though.

 

[mindputtee]

DP let it slip that he ballroom dances and he said he was getting a lot of flack about it (he works at a hardware store so a lot of guy guys.) When we were doing remodeling and were in his store like everyday I ran into him and came and said hi. He said then the guys said they couldn't really tease him anymore about dancing because he actually danced with a pretty girl. It kind of made my day.

Anyway, a lot of guys seem to have this idea that they will be viewed as less of a man for ballroom dancing. I tell guys that it's pretty much the most manly sport they can do seeing as they are being pressed up against a woman the entire time. ;-)

Personally, I am very open about dancing. Everyone seems to take it well, but as a girl I suppose it might be a little different.

 

[debmc]

People at work know I dance, but they don't fully understand it. When I say I dance rhythm and latin, they automatically will start by asking me about salsa. Then when I explain what dances I do they usually say...and sometimes quite seriously.... "you should go on Dancing with the Stars!". I really prefer to keep my dance life separate from my work life, so I don't invite work friends to dance competitions unless I am very close to them.

 

[Sagitta]

People at work know I dance, but they don't fully understand it. When I say I dance rhythm and latin, they automatically will start by asking me about salsa. Then when I explain what dances I do they usually say...and sometimes quite seriously.... "you should go on Dancing with the Stars!".

People always try to connect by relating via what they know, hence the references to shows like "Dancing with the Stars". I am a on1 salsa and casino dancer and such shows would be the last thing to connect with me and I've got the same from people.

 

[danceronice]

I have to explain (as that always comes up, doesn't it) that I'll never be good enough to be one of the pros, and in the unlikely event I'm ever famous enough to be asked as a 'star', well, I like winning but even I know I'd be the ringer.

 

[dancerdol]

I have worked at three different organizations since I began ballroom dance training and competitions. In each job - being a "dancer" has helped to distinguish me like a tri-athlete as someone who trains hard, loves to compete, believes in being part of a team and sharing the ups and downs of working towards a goal. I've always had very supportive managers who have readily approved time off for comps but, I still keep my work life and dance life fairly separate.

 

[debmc]

I have to explain (as that always comes up, doesn't it) that I'll never be good enough to be one of the pros, and in the unlikely event I'm ever famous enough to be asked as a 'star', well, I like winning but even I know I'd be the ringer.

That's funny! I actually had to seriously explain to someone at work why I would not fit into either category.. neither the pro nor the star.

 

[debmc]

In each job - being a "dancer" has helped to distinguish me like a tri-athlete as someone who trains hard, loves to compete, believes in being part of a team and sharing the ups and downs of working towards a goal. .

At my job I think it just distinguishes me as the person who needs alot of time off!