Birthday Circle Dances: Good or Bad?

S

salcero2005

Some people don't like sitting on the sideline watching. Others are terrified to get in the circle and dance in front of everyone. Sometimes they go smooth, while other times guys are fighting over the girl or people are bumping into each other.

Do you like them? Have you had one? Do you plan to have one?

Here is an example of one: youtube.com/watch?v=qFu9676rXaw
 
salcero2005 said:
Some people don't like sitting on the sideline watching. Others are terrified to get in the circle and dance in front of everyone. Sometimes they go smooth, while other times guys are fighting over the girl or people are bumping into each other.

Do you like them? Have you had one? Do you plan to have one?

Here is an example of one: youtube.com/watch?v=qFu9676rXaw
Click to expand...

Personally - I hate them, from both sides. But then I'm not an extrovert and being centre of attention from a watching crowd is something that just me want to curl up and fade in to the shadows. However, some people really enjoy them.

The best ones are where the guys work together to pass the girls onto the new partner - fighting over the girl isn't really the idea behind it all, is it.
 
The first birthday circle I saw was in a small club in Santa Barbara and I thought it was great. That club had a great atmosphere anyway... everyone pretty much knew everyone. The ones you get here in britain don't flow quite as nicely, but I think it's a cute thing to do and if done with a bit of heart are a great way to celebrate someone's special day!
 
sweavo said:
The first birthday circle I saw was in a small club in Santa Barbara and I thought it was great. That club had a great atmosphere anyway... everyone pretty much knew everyone. The ones you get here in britain don't flow quite as nicely, but I think it's a cute thing to do and if done with a bit of heart are a great way to celebrate someone's special day!
Click to expand...
If it is a group of friends...maybe...I don't really like them..I don't see the point. I dance with everyone anyway, and a full song with one person is more fulfilling than a couple seconds. And there also is the dreaded person whom I don't dance with, so I wouldn't want to diss her. I made it a point that no-one knew my birthdate, even though it was a Tuesday last year, and that's my latin night out.
 
I like being in the middle (But I also like being the center of attention :D ) I also like being on the outside. Its fun! I have never seen a birthday dance where guys fought over the girl in person - just doesn't happen in my scene (sure its possible - but I just haven't seen it happen).
 
I think it's a fun and cool little thing to do on someone's b-day. Doesn't have to be spectacular or anything. It's kind of the same thing when people sing "Happy Birthday". It's not like anyone singing has Marc Anthony's voice, so it's obviously not about the singing. It's basically a "Hey, we like you enough to acknowledge your b-day with a little dancing". I think it goes smoother if the guy is the one in the middle because he can choose the girl without bumping around so much.
 
saw a teacher drop a girl once but she was fine :shock: . it happened in one of those big circles. one thing ive noticed about some female teachers is that some guys think its a spin-fest :? happy birthday
 
salcero2005 said:
Here is an example of one: youtube.com/watch?v=qFu9676rXaw
Click to expand...
This is great :D - never seen multiple B-day dances done in one big circle like this before.
 
I love watching them! Im too shy to do it myself but one day.... I especially love it when its one of my dancing buddies and they are out there handling thier business... :lol: the last one I saw was a friend of mines and this guy swooped in spun her like eight time right off the bat. All the girls were sqealing and cheering her on. I'm personally not ready for one yet because it seems like the guys all throw thier best stuff at you and i dont want to mess up when all eyes are on me, but they are fun to watch.
 
Terremoto said:
I like being in the middle (But I also like being the center of attention :D ) I also like being on the outside. Its fun! I have never seen a birthday dance where guys fought over the girl in person - just doesn't happen in my scene (sure its possible - but I just haven't seen it happen).
Click to expand...
See I don't mind the attention, but I don't like what these things become which is to show off, rather than helping the birthday person have a good time. So if it is a leader you as a follower facilitate his expression of the music, and if it is a follower you as a leader do stuff that makes her feel good. Some ladies like spinning/dips so that is great, but there are some beginners who would prefer neither and one can tell it but people still put stuff in. That is ridiculous IMO.
 
I only participate if it's someone I know, that aside it's a bit of harmless fun.

This year I went out dancing three times during my birthday week - I had planned to tell everyone it was my birthday but in the end I chickened out.
 
I kinda like them! I used to be reeeeeeally nervous about them, but after I'd done a few, I mostly got over it. Still would be a tad bit nervous for my own bday dance though, and also for dances with showboat types.

Out here in LA, when they do them, the circle just stands there and half heartedly does the basic step. I loooooooove to see the ones where everyone actually circles/moves around the center couple. Looks so much more fun!
 
Mine was fun, but it was at a smaller social/party with maybe only 20 people in the studio, and 5 or 6 girls in the circle....its easier as a guy because i get to control when i switch partners....birthday dances for ladies are usually a mess...we tried to do one at a birthday party once and it was a disaster...I usually only participate if it is someone i know quite well.

It doesn't annoy me too much when people stop an event to do a birthday dance for someone, but I don't think it is really necessary. I know I personally wouldn't be offended if other people were going about their own business on my bday dance.
 
In my area, it seems that only popular dancers get to have birthday circles. Lately, people let the organizer of the social before hand that they want to celebrate their birthday. So, the organizer creates a social media flyer advertising the event and announcing birthday celebrations, including the picture of the person/people. Yet, not everyone participates in the circle for that person. Only the friends of that person are in it, because the irregular dancers tend to just sit and watch. The more popular the dancer is, the more people will join in the birthday circle. The popular dancers are the experts.
 
I've had exactly 1 birthday circle (also with cake) done in my honour in my Salsa life. My good friend organized it unbeknownst to me, so it wasn't about popularity as I don't advertise my birthday.

At that time, however, I was a regular at Salsa parties and making efforts to get to know people, plus the DJ was also a good friend of mine, so it wasn't like I was some random person walking into the club demanding birthday funsies.

So at that moment, it felt kind of natural to have all of that boil over during that moment, especially after all the time I'd spend helping to build that community.

Was it nice? Yes. Was it necessary? No, it was not.

Did I feel like the world stopped turning for me during those 5 minutes? Honestly not really, because there were other things going on and others who didn't participate in the birthday circle were doing their own thing elsewhere.

It is a memory I will cherish because it was done in good faith.

But I get it, if you're not participating in it, it can seem like a waste of your 5 minutes.

Normally, I avoid them if I don't know the person. Sitting out for 5 minutes isn't going to kill me. I have more important things to complain about. If it happened every week, then that would be different. But even so, at any event, I need to take a break.

I consider any Bachata set more of a nuissance and a disruption to my Salsa night than a Birthday circle.
 
A woman in my salsa course invited the whole class to her place for her birthday. We had a good time then we did the birthday rueda when it was my turn to dance with her it was the end of the song so the teacher shout to me "Vacuna!!", I threw my hips as if I was having sex with her but she was to drunk to protect herself :rofl: . We laughed so hard, an incredible memory.
 
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