Twist to the Mating Ritual

Psychologists have identified the key male dance movements that most arouse female interest—and all are to do with body motions that send out primal signals of health, vigour and strength.

Psychologists have identified the key male dance movements that most arouse female interest—and all are to do with body motions that send out primal signals of health, vigour and strength. ‘Good’ dancers do wider and bigger movements of the head, neck and torso. In contrast, ‘bad’ dancers tend to plod and be stiff—throwing one’s arms around is no substitute for fast, variable movements. A team from Northumbria University, England, filmed 19 men aged 18-35 as they danced to a standard disco beat and used the footage to create a dancing avatar. Thirty-seven young women were then shown 15-second clips of the avatars and asked to judge which dance movements were the most attractive. The outcome matches previous research that shows a preference for men who are strong, vigorous and skilled in motor movements. These are all part of a classic mating quest for the ‘right’ genetic material, which is why the dance floor mimics a courtship arena where the male struts his stuff.