How to Dirty Dance

Co-authored by William Orrock

Last Updated: November 26, 2022 References

Dirty dancing is sensual, suggestive dancing with a partner. To dirty dance is to dance with abandon, with your body loosened up and your whole being thrown into the rhythm. You don't have to emulate the dance style from the film.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Learning Some Dance Moves

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Engage your head, neck, and upper body if you're a man. For men, moving particular regions of the body was found to be more sexually stimulating in a 2010 study. Men who moved their heads, necks, and upper bodies in a fluid manner, following the rhythm of the music, were ranked as more sexual appealing by a group of female judges. If you're a man, remember to keep these body parts in mind when dancing. It could make you appear more attractive to women. Bob your head from side to side. Sway your upper body with the movement.^{[1]
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2
Learn some basic moves. If you want to practice dirty dancing, learn some basic moves. Having a few specific moves in mind may be better than simply improvising.
- Learn the basic rhythmic step. Step right, then bring the right foot together with the left. Then step left and bring the left foot together with the right.
- Practice a basic dirty dancing hold. The man places his right hip so it's glued to the woman's right hip. Then, the man takes his right leg and places it between her legs. The woman wraps her hand around the man's neck and the man places his hands on the woman's hips.
- The basic dirty dancing dip involves one partner wrapping his or her arms around the other partner's neck. Then, this partner bends over while the other partner reaches one leg upward.
3
Rock your hips. Bend your knees a little bit. Rock your hips from side to side, swinging your behind down toward the floor as you sway.^{[2]
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- You can spice this movement up by rotating your pelvis in a circle as you swing your hips from side to side. Imagine it like you're moving a hula hoop with your hips. You can put your hands on your hips or move them in the air with the beat of the music.^{[3]
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Grind. Grinding is a popular dirty dancing move that involves rubbing your hips on the groin area of someone dancing behind you. Keep your feet hip-width apart and gently bend over. Keep your back arched so your behind sticks up into the air. Then, wiggle your hips gently against your dance partner's groin. If you're doing a lap dance, rise and fall against your partner's lap while wiggling your hips.^{[4]
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Move a part of your body in isolation. Hold most of your body still while you move only a certain part.^{[5]
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- You can also work on contrasts, such as making a fast spin end in a slow caress or carrying a hip sway all the way to the ground.
6
Touch your partner's body. Touching your partner's body can help enhance the experience of dirty dancing. Rub your hands gently over your partner's legs, back, and sides. Try touching your partner's face in a slow, sensual manner. You can also wrap one leg around your partner's side, although this may be slightly more complicated.
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Touch your own body. Do not just focus on touching your partner's body when dirty dancing. Engaging with your own body can be sexually appealing as well.
- Engage with your lower body. Run your hands up and down your legs, touching your knees and upper calves. Touch or slap your butt. Have fun and do what feels comfortable.^{[6]
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- For the upper body, touching the shoulders or running your fingers through your hair can be sexy. For women, you can try touching your breasts.^{[7]
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Follow the beat of the music. Some people are attracted to those who can dance well. Try to pay attention to the beat of the music you're dancing to. Move your body with the beat of the music. Try to have your movements follow the song. Dance faster for a quicker paced moment in a song. Slow down as the tempo does. Having a stylized routine is something many people might find appealing.^{[8]
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Practice. If you want to be good at dancing dirty, it's like any other skill. It requires a great deal of practice. Strive to spend some time each day practicing a dance routine.
- If you need inspiration for dance moves, there are many tutorials on YouTube and other video sharing sites that go over sexy dance moves. Try practicing some of these routines in front of the mirror.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Getting the Right Mindset

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Forget insecurity. If you want to be a good dancer, try to forget insecurity. Do not get hung up on what others might think. Focus on yourself and your body. In clubs and other places where people dance publicly, you may occasionally get a rude comment. Try to ignore negativity. It usually comes from a place of insecurity.^{[9]
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- Remember, there is no incorrect way to express yourself when it comes to dance. So long as you’re being yourself and moving in way that feels right to you, you’re doing it right!
2
Build a positive body image. Having a positive body image can help you be more comfortable with yourself. This can help you feel better about dirty dancing. Work on building a strong body image.
- Focus on the function of your body over its form. Instead of feeling bad about your weight, physique, and other aspects of your physical appearance, focus on how strong your body is. Allow yourself to be amazed that you can bike to work uphill. Embrace the fact you're able to keep up with friends on a weekend hike.^{[10]
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- Practice positive self-talk. Spend some time talking up your body each day. Say to yourself, "I love my arms" or "I enjoy how my legs look these days." It may sound strange at first, but praising your body can help you feel better and more confident.^{[11]
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- Get rid of things that trigger a poor body image. Ditch the bathroom scale. Don't go out to lunch with people who are dieting or complain about their own bodies. Avoid mirrors if you tend to scrutinize yourself.^{[12]
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Consider taking classes. There are many classes you can take on dancing, dirty dancing in particular. Look for classes in your area. If you're female, a pole dancing class might actually be helpful. Many women find such classes surprisingly empowering and welcome to women of all shapes and sizes. You could also look for a belly dance class or an erotic dancing class.
4
Choose the right clothing. Look for clothing that is sexy and form fitting. However, make sure you can still move in the clothing. Pants that are too tight, for example, can be constricting when dirty dancing. Choose provocative, revealing clothes that are loose enough that you can move in them.

Expert Q&A

Question

What's a good way to create some natural chemistry when I'm dancing with a partner?

William Orrock
Professional Dancer & Instructor
William Orrock is a Professional Dancer, Instructor, Group Fitness Instructor, and the Owner of We Evolve Dance. With more than 22 years of experience, he specializes in performance, social dancing instruction, competitive dance preparation, and wedding choreography. William holds a Bachelor's degree in Contemporary Dance with a minor in Choreography from Universidad Las Americas-Chile and a second minor in Acting from Foothill College Acting Conservatory. He is also a national champion in Latin American Dancing, a former dancer for Dancing with the Stars Chile, and a certified judge for ballroom competitions.

William Orrock

Professional Dancer & Instructor

Expert Answer

Make sure to be clear who's the follower and who's the leader. If you're the follower, then be respectful and pay attention to cues that the leader is giving you. The dynamic will feel a lot more natural and your dance movements will flow really well. If you're a natural leader when you dance, just let your partner know that so you can feel more relaxed, use your natural instincts, and let go.
Question

How can I make sure my hips are less stiff and more loose when I dance?

William Orrock
Professional Dancer & Instructor
William Orrock is a Professional Dancer, Instructor, Group Fitness Instructor, and the Owner of We Evolve Dance. With more than 22 years of experience, he specializes in performance, social dancing instruction, competitive dance preparation, and wedding choreography. William holds a Bachelor's degree in Contemporary Dance with a minor in Choreography from Universidad Las Americas-Chile and a second minor in Acting from Foothill College Acting Conservatory. He is also a national champion in Latin American Dancing, a former dancer for Dancing with the Stars Chile, and a certified judge for ballroom competitions.

William Orrock

Professional Dancer & Instructor

Expert Answer

You can get better at rolling the hips by practicing slowly making a "figure 8" with your pelvis. When you roll your hips, focus on moving them side to side. Stick to swinging your hips in rotations that are between the width of your shoulders. Also remember to tilt your pelvis forward and backward to get a better feeling for all the different directions that your hips can move in.
Question

How old do you have to be to dirty dance?

Community Answer

I don't think there's a specific age requirement for dirty dancing, but you would probably get in trouble if you tried it at a middle school dance, for example.