Good dancers are sexy, right? Good. Glad we’re all in agreement about that. But that determination, of course, begs the following question: What moves make someone a good dancer? Luckily for all the straight dudes out there, science has the answer — at least as the ladies see it.
Researchers from Northumbria University recently conducted a study to determine which dance moves are likely to earn guys some approval from women, as well as which ones…well, aren’t. First, they gathered together a group of 19 males in the 18-to-35 age bracket with no professional dancing experience. Then, they hooked each of their test subjects up to some motion capture equipment and had them groove to a simple beat. Using the data they captured through this method, the researchers then created a few generic-looking, digital, 3-D models and measured them by four factors: Amplitude, speed, duration, and variability. These models were shown to a sample of 37 women, who rated them for their dance ability. According to the results, here’s what you need to do to be considered a good dancer:
1. Use your “central body region.”
Nod your head, twist, and bend your torso forwards, backwards, and sideways. Apparently we love that shit.
2. Vary up your moves.
Variety is the spice of life after all!
3. Move your legs.
For some reason, bending and twisting your right knee faster is perceived as a quality of good dancing. Why the right one specifically? No idea, but the data doesn’t lie.
The curious can read the full report here; but for those who prefer visual cues, you can check out a video here detailing the experiment. Watch the good dancer boogie at about the 48-second mark, and get all embarrassed for the bad dancer at the 58-second mark.
Parting shot:
Awwwwww yeeeeeeeeeah.
Images: Warner Bros.
