Charles Darwin, a champion of natural selection based evolutionary research, proposed that certain characteristics in humans advance thanks to the sexual preferences of their counterparts. When it comes to courtship, it is well known that males often use signals and body movements to suggest interest in the opposite sex. For humans that can be translated through the art of dance.
Some authors have suggested that females may evaluate males largely on the quality of their movements, especially those movements that contain elements of vigor and/or skill, because these are most likely to indicate health and genetic quality.
In a recent study conducted by researchers at Northumbria University and the University of Gottingen in the UK and Germany (respectively), data was gathered to determine what traits women look for in a dancing partner. Using motion-capture technology, scientists recorded 30 males of varying backgrounds dancing to a basic drum beat for 30 seconds. In order to isolate the dance moves specifically from environmental factors such as physical attractiveness, socioeconomic status and clothing; the researchers created 3D avatars of the recorded movements to replace the footage itself.
The two videos below represent examples of what the computer generated avatars looked like. Each video presents a very different routine, but how exactly does one determine value from seemingly random body movements?
When the clips were shown to a group of 37 females, the women were asked to rate the quality of each dancer on a 7-point scale. After analyzing the data and the women’s reaction to the dancing, researchers concluded that 11 movement variables were significantly positively correlated with perceived dance quality.
They isolated three key body regions and the main joints within – the central body, including neck and torso; legs, including knees, hips and ankles; and arms, including shoulders, elbows and wrists. For each dancer, they then measured the degree and type of movement at each joint – speed, size, and variety of movements like bending, twisting and tilting.
The most positively influential moves included larger and more variable movements in the head, neck and torso. The research also showed that the speed of leg movement was a big factor as well. The faster the better, as a matter of fact, to display a high level of coordination and rhythm. Twisting of the right knee had a positive impact on the female’s perception of the dance quality; however, left leg movement showed a negative impact.
Arms, whether they were waving in the air like they just don’t care or glued to their sides, didn’t seem to matter at all.
So based on this information, here are some videos to help you get your groove on in a way that impresses all the ladies on the dance floor.
First – Get your neck into it.
Next – Work those hips.
Third – Get your footwork down
Now put it all together.
Original Article Credit – The Washington Post
Scientific Publishing – Northumbria University
Photo Credit – Rukes
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