How to NOT get asked to dance?

[Beowulf]

Hiya,

odd question I know as EVERYBODY wants MORE dances. But there are times when you perhaps want to sit out and rest, and turning people away is just embarrassing .. for both parties involved.

So what signals do you use when you don't want a dance?

I have a serious point in this thread.. but expecting some silly/fun replies

I'm heading to Greenwich on Saturday with Twirly. I'm still not back dancing (as my darned ongoing leg problem won't let me) Now I "THINK" I'll be able to manage a dance or two when I'm there (Am fragile please be gentle with me) but I start to ache / tire very quickly. As no-one wants to dance with someone who's grimacing I thought it best to ask for known "Please don't ask me for a dance" signals.

I'm there to meet and chat to people , and keep Twirly company.. but I'll hide in the gent's loo if needs be (I risk getting the oddest reputation you know )

[ducasi]

Some ideas...

Don't wear shoes.
Have a pint of beer in your hands – must be alcoholic to work the best.
Wear a "I don't dance with people like you" t-shirt.
Sit with your back to the dance-floor.
Pick your nose.
Wear a cropped vest.
Buy a fake plaster-cast.
Bring a guide-dog and dark glasses.

Put that lot together, and I guarantee no dances.

[David Bailey]

Hiya,

odd question I know as EVERYBODY wants MORE dances. But there are times when you perhaps want to sit out and rest, and turning people away is just embarrassing .. for both parties involved.

So what signals do you use when you don't want a dance?

Well, my normal expression seems to work

Seriously, sitting or standing some distance away from the dance floor, or having a drink in your hand, should do the trick. It's like protecting your home against burglary, it's all about minimizing opportunity

[Lynn]

I hate going dancing with an injury or if I'm really tired because that's always seems to be the time I'm asked a lot!

For me, sitting well away from the dance floor is the best method. Taking dance shoes off can help if its the end of the night and I don't want to dance anymore.

I've developed a few 'asking for/declining dances' methods from AT - asking with a look, no words needed. And likewise if I don't want to dance, looking away if someone is approaching. Then no actual refusing is required. Not that I use it very much!

Of course its hard to know if someone is coming across to sit down beside you for a chat, and you then look away, that isn't very friendly!

I would say two of the best though are sitting looking grumpy/miserable or sitting draped all over a partner.

So look grumpy and get Twirly to sit on your knee. That should keep you safe from being asked much!

[David Bailey]

Oooh - I know! Sit on the stage. Everyone will assume you're a hotshot and not ask you

[Twirly]

get Twirly to sit on your knee.

I had thought of doing that... but I don't want to make his leg problems worse!

I'll just spend the first hour or so draped over him and growl at any woman who comes near whom I don't know... that should work!

[David Franklin]

So what signals do you use when you don't want a dance?

Me thinks you are approaching this the wrong way. I think you need to make it look like you really want to dance.

Here's the plan:

(long form)

Get Twirly to arrive at the venue separately from you.
Arrive at the venue. Try not to look like you're a dancer.
When Twirly sees you arrive, she takes the opportunity to start dancing smoochily with a mutual accomplice.
Make sure you're watching with eyes on stalks.
When the dance is over, dash over and grab her for a dance. Don't let on you know each other.
Don't try to dance any moves. Just grind and sleaze. Towards the end of the dance, pull her in for a snog.

(short form)

Dance with Twirly.
Half way through, get her to stop, slap you, and say very loudly: "Get your hand off my breast!"

Either way, I suspect you won't get anyone else asking you for a dance the rest of the evening.

(I risk getting the oddest reputation you know )

Never a truer word...

[straycat]

Just wear a SARS mask at all times in the venue. No effort involved, and if you ever feel embarrassed by it, just remember that no-one will know it's you. Unless they read this thread.

[dave the scaffolder]

Have a curry before you go and fart like a frightened horse...

Works every time.

XXX XX DTS Dave

[MartinHarper]

So what signals do you use when you don't want a dance?

I'm informed by an occasionally shy friend of mine: get a drink and sit down. Every time a song ends and another starts, have a drink.

[Cruella]

Wear a Tshirt with 'My name is Barry' on it. The girls hate to be refused.
(or Silverfox)

[Zara]

Well, apperantly all you have to do is get older and put on weight, then you wont get asked. One of my friends believes this is the case for her, she doesnt get asked to dance much anymore, but she dances just as well as before...

[Ghost]

Oooh - I know! Sit on the stage. Everyone will assume you're a hotshot and not ask you

Actually this is probably a good idea at Greenwich. There will probably be people sitting on the stage - sit behind them. There's plenty of room. Someone's gotta be really determined to climb onto the stage and over women to get to you (so many smilies to chose from....) - in which case revert to Plan Twirly

[Vegetable]

U could just hold some 1's hand put ur arm around some 1 or talk 2 some 1 i tend 2 not ask ppl if they are engaged in some way with some 1 else

[Whitebeard]

Just pop along to your local novelty shop and buy a stick on white beard (Christmas stuff around already so their should be no supply problems): that should do the trick ;-)

[Sparkles]

Bandage your ankle and take crutches with you?

Spend time speaking to the DJ (as has been said people won't venture up onto the stage to ask you) or the lovely people on the front door (well, Sue's lovely, te Wacko is, well, mad... ).

If you sit on the stage and someone does venture up to ask you to dance, you could always say 'no' - it used to work for the people at Hammersmith

Take your WoW game manual with you and sit and read it - that should put most people off .

[stewart38]

Having your tongue down a girls throat usually works, ask hubby first though ?

I was never asked to danced when I was in the Chalet so maybe some truth in the saying, if you don’t go out you don’t get asked ?

[Beowulf]

Take your WoW game manual with you and sit and read it - that should put most people off .

yeah that might work.. heavens knows I NEED to read it

erm.... gnomes can't be hunters....

But I think I'd find I'd scare off the lovely Twirly as well

I could get one of those signs that say "Please do not ask for credit as a refusal often offends" and score out the word "Credit" and change it to "Dances"

I just don't want to come across as rude by turning people down. I plan to get SOME dances (I hope ) but I will not be able to dance every track. It may not be an issue I may not get asked anyway

I guess if I'm asked to dance when I'm sitting out resting I'll just have to bore them silly with my sob story of my legs again.. and again.. and again... and again...

[Mezzosoprano]

I'm informed by an occasionally shy friend of mine: get a drink and sit down. Every time a song ends and another starts, have a drink.

yeah, that'd work because you'll be in the loo all night!!!

[Twirly]

Having your tongue down a girls throat usually works, ask hubby first though ?

I don't have a hubby... so if I catch him doing that, it'll become quite clear to every woman in the place that he's unable to dance (or do much else) rather rapidly!