Primal Play: Dance
Though it’s an important aspect of the Primal Blueprint, the concept of play doesn’t get enough attention around here. I guess by virtue of its very nature this is to be expected. Play should be spontaneous and freeing, and the regimentation of our leisure time is what we’re trying to avoid! Still, given the time-sucking realities of adult responsibility, maybe we all need a few suggestions for new ways to play. I’m not talking about making play dates or anything, but a few concrete examples could really help. You know, something that’s free, that you can share with friends and family, and that’s fun. How about dancing?
Dancing? Bear with me, here.
Until now, almost everything I’ve suggested in the past as Primal play activities has had an overt physical fitness slant. Pickup basketball, Ultimate Frisbee, hikes, walks with the spouse, random play with dogs/kids/wilderness – these are all great, enjoyable activities, but it’s difficult for some people to separate them from the concept of exercise. Most people see a guy on a hike and think “workout.”
Dancing is different. It can be an awesome workout, sure, but people generally don’t hit up the gym, grab that hairy guy off the elliptical, head to the full length mirror, and bust out the Kid ‘n’ Play routine from “House Party.” I kind of wish that super hairy, extremely gregarious dude at my gym who can’t seem to ever find his pants in the locker room would, just for the comedy of it all. Maybe he’s even got a mean running man in him. I wouldn’t know.
Anyway: dancing is definitely different. It takes skill and athleticism, if you’re talking about advanced techniques or styles, but anyone can dance. Not everyone can be a professional or street performer, but anyone can enjoy dancing, and that’s the whole point of it, in the end. If you’re able to give yourself to it fully (“dance like nobody’s watching”), dancing can actually be extremely rewarding.
Dancing does no harm. Dancing is fun, it’s sexual, and, like singing and music, it is universal. Dance itself can be described as an exposition of human movement patterns; dancers explore the full range of human movements through three-dimensional space, by leaping, contorting, falling, twisting, rotating, spinning. Dance can be rigid and regimented, and it can also be free and fluid. Why not take a dip?
Well, for some people, dancing is a frightening prospect. It may not be quite so dire a situation as that small town in “Footloose,” where dancing was actually banned, but people are definitely somewhat restrained when it comes to dancing. It takes guts to let yourself go, I mean really go, and do so with a smile on your face. Dancing renders the dancer completely vulnerable, to outside criticism and prying eyes, but mostly to his or her own thoughts about what’s expected of a normal adult. Unless the alcohol is flowing, the lights are dimmed, and someone’s daughter is getting married, we’re not supposed to be dancing like wild men and women. We’re supposed to be composed, to – at the most – maintain a polite, inoffensive sway, preferably on beat, or at least adjacent to it. We’re rational, higher animals! We are above the frenzy of the ecstatic or the emotive… aren’t we?
Absolutely not. If we were, life would be incredibly boring and reptilian. Dancing itself is Primal – there’s certainly strong precedent for its inclusion in the human experience. Look at basically every traditional culture and you’ll find dance, along with music. In fact, the two are never really separated. You dance to music, after all. And since music is present in every culture, it’s a safe bet that Homo sapiens were banging on drums or singing chants since at least 50,000 years ago, which is roughly when the widespread dispersal of man out of Africa occurred. Some archaeologists even suggest dance has been around for over a 1.5 million years, perhaps manifesting as a literal “mating dance” between potential partners looking for the right mate. Anyone who’s ever been to a nightclub has seen this phenomenon in action – nothing really changes, huh? Regardless, a musical tradition had been established which spread as man spanned the world, and dance with it.
Even if dancing was useless and purely frivolous – that is, it conferred no concrete physiological benefits – it would still be worth doing, because frivolity is part of what makes us human. We do things for the hell of it. We’ll sing nonsensical songs, make strange noises when we’re alone, twiddle our thumbs, play with our hair, think of distant jokes and laugh all over again. Do we need a reason? No. We just do it to amuse ourselves and occupy our minds.
Dancing should serve the same purpose in our lives. Like other forms of play, it can reduce stress, get us moving, help us spend quality time with loved ones and friends, and improve our coordination, mobility, and flexibility. If you’re learning a particularly complex set of steps or moves, dancing requires concentration and memorization. If you’re dancing with a partner, your brain has to anticipate the other’s movements and respond accordingly. This all works out to exercise for your brain and your body. In potential dementia patients, dancing even reduced the incidence of dementia, better than other leisure activities. And hey, if you’re good enough, dancing can make you pretty damn attractive – talk about the conferment of an evolutionary advantage.
Now, I’m not suggesting that you necessarily incorporate bi-weekly dance sessions, but they can’t hurt. Just think of dance as a potential tool in your bag of tricks. Take your wife or husband to salsa lessons. Turn off the TV and blast some music one night, and just let loose. Gather some friends and do the bonfire/drum circle thing at the beach or in the woods somewhere. Pass around a bottle of wine, if you have to, and dance. It might even be enough to just bob your head when a favorite song comes on, or dance with your upperbody while at a stoplight. You may look silly, but who cares? You’ve got to get over that stuff, especially when it stands in the way of you truly enjoying life and all it has to offer. Recall the last person you saw rocking out behind the wheel; did you laugh at and pity him, or were you slightly envious of his obvious joy? Exactly.
Dance is many things, simple being foremost among all other characteristics. It doesn’t have to be deep or overly technical. Just dance for fun. It should come naturally, ideally. This last bit of advice might be the toughest to follow, but it’s also the most crucial.
What do you think about dance? Does it have a playful place in the Primal lifestyle? Do you let go every now and again? Share your thoughts in the comment board and Grok on!
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Posted By: Mark Sisson
Excellent post! Last saturday, someone’s daughter got married, the alcohol was flowing and the lights were dimmed. Boy, what a workout I got that night! I’ve also done Zumba and Drums Alive classes. For those who aren’t averse to group exercise, these are a blast! I’ve also been known to bust a move while doing yardwork and listening to my iPod. Just not in the front yard…;-)
Sometimes I “work” as a dj at weddings, parties, etc. So it’s my job to entice you into dancing… I myself love all music, mostly the kind that makes my body move involuntarily. I love “chair dancing” at my desk at work. I used to live by myself in a firestation & had my dj equip set up in the bays. I would crank up some Madonna, turn the lights on the trucks and bust out some moves with the rags & carnuba wax. Ya, I would have turned all shades of red if someone walked in on me, but I enjoyed the heck out of myself, and there were four dang shiny trucks!
I can certainly appreciate someone that is good at dancing. Unfortunately, I am not one of those people. LOL.
Dan
Despite being a caucasian male, I actually enjoy dancing with my girlfriend from time to time. A few drinks are a minimum of course, but it is fun. Truly though, you have to pretend like no one is watching!
btw Mark – I can’t believe you referenced Kid ‘n’ Play. I had to check the author of this post to see if it was ‘Worker Bee’ or not. Nice one!
This is the best post! I do some belly-dance and also love to groove out to live music. There is definitely something going that taps into universal, primal energy. Plus how can you not smile and feel sensual at the same time. Awesome!!!
I was so thrilled to see this post. A couple of years ago I discovered an fitness program called Nia. I went to my first class basically by accident. The class I planned to attend had been cancelled and Nia was all that was available. Had I known in advance that it involved DANCE, I would not have gone. But it was just so much fun. I flailed around in that first class and I’m sure I looked uncoordinated and silly – but I felt great! I’ve been going ever since and have recently become an instructor. You do it BAREFOOT (very primal!) and people at all different levels of fitness can enjoy the same class because each move can be done at different levels. Nia is inspired by Dance Arts (Jazz dance, Modern Dance, Duncan Dance), Martial Arts (T’ai Chi, Tae Kwon Do, Akido) and Healing Arts (Yoga,Alexander Technique and the teachings of Moshe Feldenkrais). The first principle of Nia is The Joy of Movement. Wow! Exercise you actually enjoy and want to do.
So many people say they can’t dance. Why is it that every single member of primal tribes can dance and in some cases they do it daily? Maybe you can’t dance because you haven’t practiced. I could not walk the first time I tried to walk and walking is natural too. Humans have enjoyed dancing for eons – don’t you deserve some of that fun in your own life? Here is a link to some videos of Nia – enjoy! http://www.nianow.com/nia-in-action
There is a new Wii game on dancing. My daughter was asking me for it. Looks like a lot of fun. May have to rent it.
Phil- If it’s the “Just Dance” game, it comes highly recommended. My husband and I have a blast! (He’s not a “dancer”, but he IS competitive.) Time flies by when we play that, and it’s definitely a workout.
I was just thinking this morning about how much I miss going out dancing, then I hopped online and voila!- timely post, Mark!
I love busting a few moves “Napoleon Dynamite” style in front of the mirror at home while I wait for Lyle to slaughter me the cow in the paddock across the street.
The only problem with this post is that it makes me want to go out dancing tonight and it’s a work night!
I like to get together a group of people now and again and go out. It’s fun, uses up random energy and makes me feel sexy (and no, I don’t dance “well”, whatever that means).
I even bop to music when I walk down a street. Who really cares what people I don’t know think of me? And if friends see me, I don’t care about that, either. They already think I’m crazy.
I live to dance.
About five years ago, I came to the realization that the reason I didn’t dance wasn’t that I *couldn’t*–it was that I simply didn’t know how. Dancing wasn’t a part of growing up. So, I looked around and figured out what would be most useful to an early-20-something: belly dance.
Did that for a couple years, performed a few times–and gained the moves and confidence to dance in public. Belly dance moves can be modified to dance to most music and there is something primal in the sensuality and intensity of it. Also primal because you dance barefoot 
I was thinking this spring would be a good time to sign up for lessons again, and now here’s this post. I’m signing up for a class now!
Yes! Dancing. I love it. When I was younger I used to go out every Friday and Saturday night and dance until dawn. People thought I was crazy. I was not there to drink alcohol at all, I just danced all night. I was incredibly fit and thin too
Finding the time to dance now is hard but I should really try to find the time to do it again. Perhaps not until dawn this time though
I always put on headphones and rock out to whatever music I’ve got on when it’s time to do chores – dishes, laundry, you name it. It makes it more fun, the time goes faster, and even though the hubby and roomie can see me, I don’t care. I don’t even know if I’m a good dancer…. it’s fun, so I do it, lol.
Tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop…it’s my job!
Anyone else out there into this stuff?
Mr. Mark Sisson please stand up.
I Jack Christopher award you 1000 whuffie points for the “House Party” reference.
— Pretty fly for a white guy.
*applause*
I am going to take up belly dancing this fall through the local school district’s adult classes…it looks like fun…and I love the music!
Women LOVE men who can dance! (Ahem)
What a timely post! I was just checking out Zumba classes offered at my gym. I checked it out on Youtube, and it is exactly what I need! Looks like soooo much fun!
I do both Zumba and African dance, and it’s a blast (and a heck of a good workout!) This is a very timely post as i just love to dance it is has become a huge part of my new fitness routine. And, the African dance is , of course, barefoot…which would be make Barefoot Ted very happy
And Tim, if you read this, I live to watch all types of dance: contemporary, jazz, tap, ballet…everything…it’s all good!!
LOL I rock out all the time in the car, by myself, with the kids and occasionally at work. I was always involved in music programs in school, and to this day I can not be streetside at a parade without rocking out with the drums..parades suck to march in (rain, cold, think New England) but are so fun to dance with!
I don’t actually go to clubs these days..and I really am NOT a good dancer, I just have no shame! I have noticed my mother, who is normally VERY shy and reserved, bopping along lately at different events..HMM.. could having two granddaughters (ages 6 and 7)who LOVE to dance have something to do with it?
Nothing better for feeling Primal, and happy, and relaxed except for, well, you know…and the generations continue!:)
Great post! Being able to dance is a nice peacocking effect at big parties. It definitely gets the women’s attention.
This post reminded me of the can’t-dance-but-brings-joy-anyway-guy who travelled the world and danced at different locations: Where the hell is Matt? – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfKdbWwruY
Awesome song throughout the clip and at 0:51 it really kicks in and shows the universal joy of just letting it go. Inspirational.
Love you work Mark.
“You’ve got to get over that stuff, especially when it stands in the way of you truly enjoying life and all it has to offer. Recall the last person you saw rocking out behind the wheel; did you laugh at and pity him, or were you slightly envious of his obvious joy? Exactly.”
That is an excellent line, and I think that if more people listened to that sort of advice it would have a more profound effect than sound nutrition.
Awesome and agreed. I think my girlfriend becomes slightly embarrassed when I do this in public with her – I think I will refer her to this post.
It’s not so primal but I do like my Wii dance mat for messing about on
On a side note – I was flicking through a copy of Muscle & Fitness yesterday in a news agents and on p72 there was Mark’s name in the bright lights with a nice column review Mark’s past endurance lifestyle and current primal approach. It was brilliant!!
Belly dancing! We learn it as kids and just have to dance whenever a good song is played.
In the west that might be weird but where I come from it is not that strange for people at (not that upper scale) restaurants or pubs to just clear a small area if a particularly good song for belly dancing is played
I love dancing. Unfortunately, I learned recently I’m known in some places as “that guy who can’t dance”. Not sure what to do about that.
If you love it and you feel like you’re dancing, then you can! What to do about it? Ignore them!
To all the people that said they can’t dance: be assured that almost nobody “can” dance. The people you look at and think to yourself “Jeez, I wish I could dance like that.” only look like that because they just “do”.
As it’s often the case, it’s not about having the ability or talent, it’s about doing.
I hated dancing and going to clubs/etc. for years until I just told myself: Let go and give it a try. And that changed a whole lot.
Try it
And regarding Simon’s comment: I’m sure most of the people who call you that are those, that never step on the dancefloor, too. Face the fire, take the heat. In the end it’ll just make you better.
Hell yeah. I was annoyed for about five seconds, then the DJ played a song I like.
I have a friend who claims he has no rhythm and refuses to dance. I don’t believe this because he has no trouble hammering a nail, etc, which all takes rhythm.
I asked a dance therapist about his statement and she said usually a person who says this is a very controlling person. She was exactly right in the case of my friend.
Too bad he won’t give it a shot. Dancing is one of the great joys of life.
My kids and I blast the radio and have “dance parties” in the kitchen after dinner/dishes. Surely, we don’t have all the moves, but we’re having fun! ;0)
I love dancing (when I’m not self-conscious about it). A drink or two, and I won’t be afraid to bust a move. I’m also a big-time bopper. Even as a classically-trained clarinetist, when I’m in rehearsals, I’m the one in the ensemble bopping to the music we’re rehearsing (and the director oddly doesn’t seem to mind — I actually think he finds it amusing). One of these days, I’ll talk the hubby into taking a dance class with me.
I was one of those people who could. not. dance. They even cut a scene from a play I was in because it involved me dancing (and wasn’t central to the plot). Then I discovered contra dancing. There’s something so non-threatening about it, everyone’s too busy dancing themselves for anyone to watch you, so if you stumble or do the wrong thing, no one cares!
From contra, I got into other forms of folk dancing, as well as Argentine tango (which I do once a week now), and I’m considering taking up modern dance now. The thing about dancing is that practicing is a workout and you HAVE to practice at least once a week to stay on top of it, plus it’s fun, so you want to do it more often.