The Dance I Do Not Like (A Poem)
Every dancer has one – that dance they just can’t stand. Maybe it’s the timing that throws you off. Maybe it’s the technique that feels impossible. Or maybe it’s just that one dance your teacher keeps suggesting while you keep finding reasons to avoid it.
This poem is for everyone who’s ever glared at a dance they didn’t choose to love. Spoiler alert: the ending might surprise you.
The Dance I Do Not Like (A Poem)
I hate you, I hate you,
You’re supposed to be easy,
But this dancing and talking
Makes me unbearably queasy.
The Foxtrot, they told me,
Is smooth as can be.
But every time we try it,
It’s clumsy – that’s me.
My feet won’t cooperate,
My timing is wrong,
I’m counting in fours
While the music plays on.
Week after week,
We return to the floor.
My teacher is patient,
I’m learning some more.
Then something shifted,
I don’t know just when,
But suddenly Foxtrot
Felt different again.
The glide became natural,
The rise and the fall,
That dance that I hated
Became best of all.
I love you, I love you,
How could I have known?
The dance that I dreaded
Has made me its own.
Why We All Have “That” Dance
Here’s something your dance instructor knows that you might not: Your least favorite dance today could become your signature dance tomorrow. It happens all the time.
Think about it like relationships. Some connections are instant – you meet someone and you just click. Others take time. They require patience, repeated exposure, and the willingness to stick around even when things feel awkward.
The Foxtrot is famous for this. It looks so simple from the outside – just walking to music, right? But the timing is deceptive. The rise and fall feel counterintuitive at first. And having a conversation while dancing (which is the whole point of social Foxtrot) seems impossible when you’re counting in your head.
The Transformation That Nobody Expects
In fact, the dances that challenge you most often become the ones you love most deeply. There’s something about conquering a struggle that creates attachment. You earned that dance. You put in the hours. When you finally feel it click, the satisfaction runs deeper than any dance that came naturally. For more on this topic, check out What is the Arthur Murray Interrelated System of Learning?.
We’ve seen this pattern repeat thousands of times:
- The person who “hates” Waltz discovers its romance
- The Tango-skeptic becomes Tango-obsessed
- The Cha Cha avoider turns into the Cha Cha enthusiast
- The Swing resistor starts requesting it at every party
What you resist often becomes what defines you.
How to Handle a Dance You Don’t Like
So what should you do when you’re stuck on a dance that frustrates you? A few options:
1. Give it more time than you think it needs
Most students give up on a dance too early. They try it twice, feel awkward, and declare it “not their thing.” But comfort with any dance usually takes 4-6 solid practice sessions – not two.
2. Ask your teacher why they recommended it
Your instructor might see something you don’t. Maybe that challenging dance develops a skill you need for dances you love. Maybe it fills a gap in your dancing that’s holding you back elsewhere.
3. Try it to different music
Sometimes you don’t hate the dance – you hate the song you’ve been practicing to. A different tempo or a different era of music can completely transform how a dance feels.
4. Watch someone else who loves it
Find a video of dancers who are passionate about that style. Their enthusiasm might be contagious – or at least give you a vision of what’s possible.
The Permission to Have Preferences
Now, here’s the balance: It’s also okay to have preferences. Not every dance will become your favorite, and that’s fine. The Viennese Waltz might never click for you. Samba might always feel like a workout rather than a joy. That’s allowed.
The key is knowing the difference between “I’ve given this a fair shot and it’s not for me” versus “I tried it once and my comfort zone voice convinced me to quit.”
Be honest with yourself about which category your disliked dance falls into.
What the Poem Teaches Us
The journey from “I hate you” to “I love you” isn’t just about dance. It’s about the willingness to stay in the uncomfortable zone long enough for transformation to happen. It’s about trusting the process even when the process feels frustrating.
Your teacher has been teaching since Arthur Murray opened his first studio in 1912 – over a century of methodology refined specifically to help you through these moments. They’ve seen the hate-to-love transformation hundreds of times. They know it’s coming even when you can’t imagine it.
Your Turn
What dance do you currently not like? What if you gave it three more months before making your final judgment?
Safe to say, future you might look back and laugh at what you’re resisting today. The dance you hate might become the dance that defines your journey.
