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Gettin' Jiggy With It: The Types of Dancers You'll See In The Club

Take a look around during your next time out in a club and I bet you'll see all these different types of dancers taking up the floor. They're the unmissable features, the people that either make your night or make you wish you were having their night. No matter where you go there will always be certain types of dancers you're bound to see. If you don't spot them, then maybe you are them.

1. The Having a Good Time Dancer.

They run onto the dance-floor as soon as any Party Rock song comes on and attempts to do the shuffle dance while a cringing crowd looks on. They are clearly having a great time. Even if they aren't the best dancers their confidence makes them pretty much the most awesome person in the club. They are having the best time, miming along to the songs and not caring who's looking on. People are torn between joining in with them, as their enthusiasm is contagious, or mocking them for the rest of the night.

2. The Person Who is Actually Great at Dancing Dancer.

No matter where you are you'll find them. Late bar, club, bonfire with music somewhere. They are giving it their all. You couldn't tell if they were professionally trained or just magically gifted. Their presence breeds admiration and resentment. They make everyone else's dance moves so bad in comparison. You love to look but are too afraid to touch, so you admire from afar and buy yourself another drink.

3. The Awkward Dancer.

They do not feel comfortable dancing and you can really tell. They don't want to be here but were dragged out to the floor by their 'friends'. They haven't had nearly enough alcohol to even pretend to be having a good time. They are swaying out of time to the music and just waiting for one of their friends to suggest to get a drink. Those that notice them feel uncomfortable just by looking at them. No amount of bobbing, or frigid arm movements can save them from their awkwardness.

4. The Ironic Dancer.

Maybe they can't dance, maybe they don't have the confidence to try, but they don't let that stop them from being one of the dance-floor's favourites. They are masters of the Macerena, the Chicken Dance, the Robot, and Gangham Style. The crowd loves them and they love performing for the crowd. Like #1, they have a great time but unlike #1 they need the crowd to prove to themselves they are having a good time. Their night isn't complete until they attempt to get everyone to do the Running Man in unison with them.

5. The Sexed Up Couple 'Dancers'.

Not sure if they even qualify as 'dancing' but they are on the dance-floor and you will probably come across them. They may or may not have their pants on, you couldn't tell in the half light anyway. They will claim a corner of the dance-floor to themselves and are all over each other bumping and grinding. Everyone else on the floor is ignoring them because there are PDAs and then there are PDAs. What started as twerking and groping escalates to lap dancing and sexual advances. I just hope they use protection.

6. The Faux-Lesbian Dancers.

To quote Veronica Mars 'The 70's had the hustle, the 80's the moonwalk. We've got the faux lesbian dance.' It is the dance of our era. The sure-fire way for girls to get attention on the dance-floor. Not by showing off what dance moves they have but by seeing just how far they'll go with their best girl friends. Usually the staple dance-move of any and all hen nights.

7. The Wasted Dancer.

You honestly can't tell how they are still upright, and then they'll fall to the ground. They try to bring their drinks out with them and the bouncers keep a keen eye on them. Usually they are alone which makes you wonder did they arrive like that and if so how did they get in? And looking at them giving it their all on the dance-floor, surely they'd have sweated out all the alcohol by now?

8. The Enthusiastic Floor Hogging Dancer.

They are waving their arms and jumping around like no one else exists. They are having an unbelievable time. And are having it all by themselves. Its best to stay out of their way if you don't want to be hit in the face or kicked in the leg. Especially if they are wearing high heeled stilettos, you could lose a toe. These dancers seem to have a never-ending vat of energy. Which may or may not be as a result of popping pills or having excessive amounts of vodka red bulls.

9. The Girls Night Dancers.

These girls are out to have a good time. They are screaming 'This is our song!' for basically every single song the DJ plays. Possibly wearing feather boas, clutching cocktails and gyrating in unison. Its best to just let them have the dance-floor for a while. They can get aggressive if you interfere with their girls night ,or grind up against their backs (#10). When they aren't taking over the dance-floor they're at the bar getting shots or in the bathroom taking 20 photos of the exact same pose.

10. The Unwanted Grinding 'Dancer'.

He lurks around the dance-floor, bobbing in time to the music as he creepily scans the crowd. He seems to have come by himself solely for grinding purposes. Who knows why he thinks this is a great way to flirt with and meet people. No one appreciates having an unwanted penis shoved in their back. More often than not he's either kicked out by the  bouncer or punched in the face by a boyfriend or friend. How he gets there and where he goes is a complete mystery, but mark my words, he'll be there.

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Orlaith is a Creative Writing graduate from NUI Galway. Hailing from the low lying fields of Athenry, or at least what’s left of the low lying fields. She enjoys the internet as a means of living vicariously through others from the safe confines of her own bed. She will initiate a dance off after at least two drinks on any given night out.