Birthday Dances - For or Against?

**Shodan** · 24th-November-2006, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by DavidJames

I'll give you a clue - the end chorus is "Happy Birthday to you"

**Cruella** · 24th-November-2006, 02:59 PM

Originally Posted by robd

Dancing with you is enough to make anyone miserable .

You really deserve an infraction for that comment!

**Sparkles** · 24th-November-2006, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by Cruella

You really deserve an infraction for that comment!

Don't say things like that - then he'll be "in" with all the cool kids and will be even more impossible!

**tiger** · 24th-November-2006, 07:53 PM

For; as long as the birthday person is willingly doing it rather than doing it to keep others happy.

and for those who dont like them disrupting their freestyle for all of 3/4/5 mins; for god sake be a little less selfish. One track is hardly going to ruin your night.

**MartinHarper** · 24th-November-2006, 08:33 PM

Originally Posted by robd

Apologies if this has been covered before

It hasn't that I can find, but we have had a couple of brief threads on the wider topic of "jams" (a birthday dance is a type of jam).
" JAMS "do we like them?
Dance Jams

**Alice** · 25th-November-2006, 11:36 AM

I'm very much for birthday dances- I think they're a wonderful gift to the birthday person and very much like an extended group hug

I do think there's a time and a place for them though- great at the smaller venues where everybody knows each other, but not so good at a freestyle event or larger venue.

I don't think they should be "compulsory" for someone who didn't want one either- if they're not going to enjoy it there's no point!!

Like Sparkles though I think I'd be disappointed if I had a birthday dance and someone I cared about refused to participate... I'd just have to bash them up afterwards

I loved my birthday dance though

**SuzyQ** · 25th-November-2006, 12:47 PM

I think they are lovely and whoever said it gives a sense of community is right (in my opinion)!

Unfortunately someone assumed that I would be too shy and retiring (er - yeah right) to want to do mine this year so they took the chance away from me

This week at Fleet our door boy turned 18. He doesn't dance but he very manfully ploughed through a birthday dance.

**Beowulf** · 25th-November-2006, 01:00 PM

I've never seen or heard of these being done before. I would have no objection if someone in the venue was to have one, and would be flattered (unlikely as it is) if I was asked up.. but I wouldn't like one for myself..

**spindr** · 25th-November-2006, 11:00 PM

Originally Posted by SuzyQ

Unfortunately someone assumed that I would be too shy and retiring (er - yeah right) to want to do mine this year so they took the chance away from me

You can have an unbirthday dance any time.
SpinDr

**Icey** · 26th-November-2006, 12:03 AM

I got to share my first birthday-snowball-dance-thingie with Lory and Zebra Woman at Ashtons last summer

I really enjoyed it but did feel a little exposed and on my own until more people were dancing.

**Genie** · 26th-November-2006, 12:03 AM

I have seen them done for leavers, which I think is ok. But with the number of people at some of our nights, and therefore the frequency of birthdays, I think they're not very constructive. I think a personal birthday dance with all those people who are friends to you would mean more.

**Lynn** · 26th-November-2006, 02:08 AM

Originally Posted by Sparkles

Personally I quite like Birthday dances - they give a sense of community

I agree. Our local venues are small enough (and there are other overlapping social circles so that people know each other outside of class as well) to have that sense of community already and I think a birthday dance adds to that. I've also seen people who are along for their first few weeks join in the circle and feel 'part' of everything. A lot of our local dancers are also not yet at the stage of 'dancing every or as many as possible tracks' in an evening so don't mind the interuption.

At a bigger venue, I think probably not such a good idea. Partly because people want to freestyle as much as possible but mainly because there are more people, thus more birthdays and a more frequent occurance.

**ALexyMiss** · 26th-November-2006, 02:28 AM

I think birthday dances are nice personally, and I enjoy watching them and participating if appropriate, but could understand that it wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea.

I think I'd enjoy it because I'd get to dance with lots of people

and they'd probably do some of their best moves to show off to anyone watching

Shame I didn't even know what a birthday dance was when it was my birthday last month

Will have to wait a whole year for my turn to come around again

In terms of participating, I've done it once so far, and it definitely got the adrenalin pumping, you do feel quite under the spotlight, but I guess it's nothing compared to peforming in a competition or cabaret.

**Spin dryer** · 26th-November-2006, 04:37 PM