October 31, 2024
In the best-case scenario, only 3-5% of American males participate in any form of dance training. Realistically, I suspect it’s closer to 1-2%. While my experience is anecdotal, the number of male dancers in our adult ballet training program is regrettably small. Additionally, when I attend Argentine Tango events, the gender imbalance is striking, with significantly more women than men. More notably, many of the men who do participate come from other parts of the world; few, like myself, are U.S.-born.
Side note, I hate to disappoint everyone, but none of my professional dance solos incorporated welding.
Beyond the obvious issues related to American male masculinity and the cultural shifts caused by LSD and rock and roll, which contributed to the decline of dance halls in the 1960s and 1970s, I believe the primary reason American men shy away from dance is intimidation. Dancing well is not easy, and it’s quite simple to look foolish on the dance floor—trust me, I’ve watched my own practice videos. For male beginners, the experience is often humbling and requires a great deal of grit to master any form of dance. Frankly, it’s easier to sit on a bar stool and watch sports, an activity that demands no effort. Even mastering the tango walk and embrace has taken me a decade of work, and I am a professionally trained movement artist who runs a ballet training program. To dance well and avoid embarrassment requires intense focus.
The tango walk takes years to master. Below is a recent video of my practice in class with a fellow student.
However, men can learn to dance. I’ve witnessed some men develop quickly, especially if they have prior experience in body-awareness activities like martial arts or yoga. I've also seen men who start off extremely awkward and untalented eventually reach impressive levels of technique through sheer practice and discipline.
Other cultures seem more accepting of male dancers and dance as a form of expression. This likely explains why most of the male dancers in the tango community I frequent are from outside the U.S. I appreciate this diversity and consider it a significant strength of the tango community. Dance fosters connections and builds bonds—something the world needs more of, not less. Additionally, dance helps us understand and appreciate other cultures, another critical need in our increasingly interconnected world.
Although shows like Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance have helped the general public gain an appreciation for dance, I haven’t noticed a significant uptick in male participation as a result
Male loneliness is a growing concern, with serious implications for mental and physical health:
At tango events, it's common to see women waiting long stretches to be asked to dance. It’s disheartening. They tap their feet in frustration, cross their arms, or look away from the dance floor. It's well-known that older women often wait longer for dances, but I’ve also noticed that younger female beginners sometimes drop out, not because they aren't being asked to dance, but because there aren’t enough suitable partners in their age range. If they are interested in finding a romantic partner, the lack of options makes dancing less appealing. People generally stick with tango because they love the dance, but a larger, more balanced social scene would likely retain more dancers. Let’s face it: dating apps suck, and dancing is a more engaging alternative.
The world would be a sexier place if more men embraced dance.
Let’s encourage more American men to dance. The benefits are endless, and the world will be a happier, more connected place. Drop your email into the subscriber box below as we will soon offer some affrodable online tango classes with my instructor Monica Orozco. These class links will be provided in our weekly newsletter.
Below, working with my pro partner Natalia who is also a beautifully trained professional ballet dancer. Originally from Boliva, she began studying tango when she studied ballet at Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, tango in Beunos Aires is mandatory, but she did not receive extensive training. Natalia and and I have been working together a few months and obviously from my reaction at the end of this video, she is developing rapidly. Her classical technique has providered her tremendous form.
