Did you know there was such a thing as a dance psychologist? And that dance has its own research lab? The Dance Psychology Lab, based at the University of Hertfordshire, was founded in 2008 by Dr Peter Lovatt, also known as The Dance Doctor. The laboratory conducts research into how dance relates to four key areas: health, hormones, thinking and self-esteem.
Dance floors in nightclubs and classes alike are still mostly dominated by women who are more likely to dance just for the pleasure of it, while men battle their lack of confidence in their moves. Although we hear members of both sexes declare that they have ‘two left feet’ or no sense of rhythm, women are simply more likely to drop their handbags on the dance floor, even take their shoes off, and just dance.
Dr Lovatt, 49, takes part in a few dance classes a week at Pineapple Dance Studios in London.
“We’re all rhythmic beings. Your heart beats in a rhythm, your brain functions in a rhythm. You’ve just got to find it,” he says.
In professional dance, the role of male dancers has changed a lot since the days when men were mostly expected to impress with their spectacular leaps and effortlessly performed lifts.
Rudolph Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov captured the hearts of their audiences with performances that changed Ballet forever. More recently, Cuban-born Carlos Acosta, known for his graceful athleticism, earned the accolade of being one of the greatest male dancers of his generation (he was born in 1973).
At the popular culture end of the spectrum, Michael Jackson made dance an essential part of music videos and his unique moves keep inspiring pop icons from Justin Timberlake to Justin Bieber. And who can forget Joaquin Cortes, often referred to as the Flamenco God for his devilishly fiery performances?
Modern dance made it easier for males to explore dancing. The lack of rules and constraints enabled creativity to flourish and once the floodgates opened, other styles followed – from Hip-Hop to Break Dance and Street, these styles show the male form in its full athletic glory.
With so many styles to choose from and the negative stereotypes long gone, it has never been easier to find your rhythm, as Dr Lovatt recommends, and start dancing. It gets easier the more you practise, it’s fun and it gets you fit without feeling like hard work. You never know, you might even invent your own style!