The other day I watched a YouTube video where a belly dancer stated that not all people can dance. I don't agree with that and here's why.
According to Merriam-Webster dictionary to dance means "to move or seem to move up and down or about in a quick or lively manner" (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dance). Google dictionary defines it as "move rhythmically to music, typically following a set sequence of steps" (https://www.google.co.za/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=define%20dance). With these as the definition of dance, anyone able to move can dance. They might not all be professional dancers, but they can dance.
My kids have this lovely book.
It's about Gerald the giraffe who is all gangly and awkward. All the other animals make fun of him because he can't dance beautifully like them. Then a little cricket tells Gerald, "...sometimes when you're different you just need a different song". Gerald finds music in nature, starts to move and progresses into a full dance. The other animals gather around and remark on how beautifully he can dance and they want him to teach them.
I think if we can realise than movement is beautiful and beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then perhaps we can learn to appreciate even the people with 2 left feet and no sense of rhythm.
Because this is dancing:
And this...
And this guy! His enthusiasm gets everyone dancing.
I just loves this group dance...
They aren't going to win any competitions and they might not be aesthetically pleasing to everyone ... but they can dance.
Everyone can dance.
Even Carlton!