What Is It About Dancing That Brings Joy (1 Viewer)

[Linda]

Sometimes I help out with directing parking at a friend's place when they have events. I think I'm the only one who actually likes the job, but then I do tend to have fun wherever I go. Of course I dance around when directing traffic, and people love it - everyone smiles and some cheer me on.

I got to thinking about it. Why are people so happy to see someone dancing? There are lots of videos with dancing police people and flash mobs. Looking the faces of the observers, you see huge smiles and laughter. Maybe it is because it is a bit of joy in an unexpected place, or the person(s) dancing have the ability to share joy with many. I showed a video of a flashmob dancing to some young children. They loved it and got up and started dancing, too.

Physically, dancing feels good, and it is great for moving the fluids in our bodies. If you've ever had a cranial-sacral therapy session, you know how renewed you feel when the fluids around the brain and lymphatic system are in peak performance. So, there is the physical side of it. However, why are the bystanders having as much fun? It is as if the joy of the performer has reached the people passing by. There is something direct in this exchange.

Do any of you all perform surprise dances? Has anyone been a bystander? What do you sense about these events?

For fun - here is a video of guy directing a plane taxiing to the gate.

 

[Lila]

I want to meet that guy! ...and have a dance with him. Way to make a 'boring' job amazing
... and get some exercise, make people laugh, change the mood all around...

Yes, dancing can make almost any situation not only bearable but great and surprising. I love being an older woman who can surprise the heck out of people by breaking out some moves just because folks don't expect it. It is a guaranteed show stopper. Everything changes in that moment of surprise as people stand up and listen with their whole beings.
Afterward, whatever I say or do really sinks in.

Singing works just as well and I love how you can do it without moving and modulate your voice to create any move. Dancing, though, almost always seems to have that element of joy which is like a magical elexir to making beautiful change. Both are liable to 'catch' as people start moving and/or singing in synch.

 

[Sinera]

... and get some exercise, make people laugh, change the mood all around...

most of the times it works, this one tried hard
... but in the end failed miserably ...
but why? .. I would have cheered all the time ...
... seems the people around him were not awake enough for a deeper spiritual understanding of his tribal moves, druidic grunting and shamanic evocations, just a guess ...

 

[Linda]

but in the end failed miserably

Hey, who does not love Ricky Gervais?

However, this is an interesting point. Speaking from my experience, I can see that it works in a big open space, but not so much in an enclosed one where people are close. Is there something about the anonymity that makes it safe for people to enjoy it? People love what I do, but I feel if we were close together, they would think it is too weird.

I'm trying to figure this out - there is something going on, but I can't quite put my finger on it.

 

[Lila]

Yes, I believe that anonymity allows people to 'be' someone who they wouldn't necessarily otherwise dare to be. I refer to the onlookers here, more than anyone.
If you have to work with the person you cheered on whilst he was doing something 'odd' and look him in the face every day, isn't that a much higher bar? Plus, it helps to have imagination and a sense that you yourself can let go once in a while.
That's probably why so much dancing happens in the presence of alcohol, I'd guess? ...I'm just musing here. It's a fascinating topic.

 

[Linda]

When I'm doing that, I'm bubbling over with good will. It must be jumping out of me. Quite a few people will come by and talk to me - I guess they want to see who in the world is doing that. Without alcohol, it is a big leap to dance around like that in public.

 

[Lila]

I think that when one can do that kind of thing without 'inducements' such as alcohol, it may be because one has freed one's self from expectations of behavior that might otherwise tie us down. Like that man on the tarmac!
Or we're just too happy to care. Like me the other day when I was hopping for joy from having gotten the campsites I've wanted to go to for so long.
Or something inside just bubbles up. Like kids; wow, are they ever good at that

 

[Linda]

 

[June]

Yeah I’ve done the odd surprise dance, just a few steps to a street musician, to the embarrassment of the friend with me.
And recently a little bit of jiving with a friend to the Dads Army gang we had in town. The old bod cant keep going for long now days but the feet are uncontrollable, waltz, quickstep, jive, salsa, just can’t resist.

If you do enough dancing, like exercise it releases good feel endorphins, one of which I think is Serotonin, it’s a wonderful feeling, gives you quite a high and I understand some folk become addicted to it.

 

[June]

Linda in the supermarket

 

[Snowmelt]

 

[therium]

 

[June]

Oh yes that’s the way to do it

 

[Sinera]