blog post Top 5 dance moves that should be left to the professionals

Hi Lana! FUNNYBOOKS turns 20 Years Old today! so I wanted to say... Firsts!

DO YOU DANCE?

Unless we're counting DDR... not usually. Sometimes I will "ironically", in the sense that I know I can't dance so I will dance terribly on purpose. But other than that, I just stick to the head bob and/or foot tap.

I restrict dancing to at least 5 drinks into the evening.

@Lana: Since the topic is dancing, can today be non-stop Library Voices day? Just a thought...

There's been a lot of Hannah Georgas played lately. Please don't stop.

That Cabbage Patch video is the funniest thing I've seen in a long time

I used to dance all the time, friends and I would go out specifically to the dance bars to drink and shake our booties.

Haven't really done this in the past couple years, kind of sad about that when i think about it.

my signature* dance move is the sloth, it involves napping in the corner

*only

@Lana could we hear A.M. Bow-ties & Shiny Shoes or Boom Snap Clap please

17

I endorse this request (for what it's worth).

@Lana: I will just go ahead an assume that this whole blog topic was inspired by my repeated references to my dance-running yesterday. Again, dance running = throwing Daft Punk (it's my go-to, but I have some wicked run-friendly dance-run tracks on there like "It" or "Meet Me in the Basement") and flailing around as you run to distract yourself from the fact that you have bad knees. 

Do you dance?

I sure do now, but it's been a slow evolution. I can clearly remember being at jr. high dances and "dance parties" (memories of patio furniture in peoples' basements with Boyz 2 Men are surfacing) where I would hang on the sidelines until a slow song was played and then it was on. Later, and especially when I discovered good, danceable live music, I learned how much fun dancing could be...even if it wasn't when slowly rocking back and forth with one of my jr. high classmates. Now, I can't help but dance...occasionally even while sober. 

What are your signature moves? Any you’ve retired?

No signature moves, as such. It all tends to have a bit of a Latin feel to it. I'll blame social dance back in the day and the teacher who told me to move my hips. 

Ever have a mishap on the dance floor?

Just one and it was totally not my fault! I was really busting it out at a funk concert (I'm sorry, if funk in the vein of James Brown, Parliament, Sly and the Fam, etc. doesn't make you want to move even a little, you best check your pulse) and my aforementioned bad knee dislocated. Anyone out there who has done this to a knee knows it's excruciating. The funny bit was that, to those who didn't know, it might have looked like some strange dance in itself. I kind of half-crumbled to the floor on one-knee, with my down, stayed there for a moment, sat on a nearby chair very briefly, then shook it off and hit the floor again--reminiscent of the James Brown "cloak" routine. 

@kirkofdoom For some reason the original version of this song skips. Whoever put it in the computer wasn't paying attention (not sure if you recall this from my goodbye show in December.)

So, remix it is!

I witnessed some great dance moves at NXNE!! 

at lana,

when I'm hired at R3, my first goal will be to fix the original in the system. :p

(but seriously.)

Do I dance? That is like asking me do I breath. Of course I dance. I evern expect to dance when I am dead a la zombie Michael Jackson.

Do you dance? 

Yes, even sometimes in grocery stores! 

Ever had a mishap on the dance floor?

Several. haha

What are your signature moves?

I rock a mean sprinkler, running man, and shopping cart, thank you very much.

Any you've retired?

All of the above... haha ;)

It's official. No election in Ontario this summer. The budget has passed.

@Ftom: that movie looks fantastic. The one guy kinda looks/sounds like Peter Tosh...?

I usual only dance at weddings... speaking of weddings... congratualtions to Canada's / Alpha Flight's NORTHSTAR!

@Garf 36 - That is hilariously awesome.

I love the comment "It was funny until I realized that's how I dance."

Laurita

The dancing may not be too sexually charged but the outfits are pretty damned cute.

Thanks for the shout out Lana! My customers were very impressed (It's new Comic Day too). If U somehow run out of dance songs to play U can get some ideas off of my "dancing with myself" playlist on my profile page. Luke Doucett's MONKEYS is on there... Can U play that O_o?

Thanks for that, Lana!

@ Zamm: I think you're thinking of Irish dancing.

we don't wear the cute little dresses or curl our hair. It's pretty hardcore (read: we were ALL INJURED ALL THE TIME.) Here

@ Lana: MAN,this is an AMAZING set to send me off to graduation. Thankee! :D

Dance Song Request

Lana, could you please play The Scenics - Do The Wait, possibly the easiest dance move ever!

Dancing is fun and exhilarating.  Even if you're shy... just have a drink and feel the music.  Honestly, no one is watching you.  Self-consciousness is a funny thing because you have this assumption that people are scrutinizing you, however, I can assure you that people generally do not care.  

@zammy #56, I thought that was Whisky!

@fictionjunkie - I recommend Irish Dancing! Where do you live? I'll teach her. I did it for 10 years! #pro

@ Fictionjunkie: oh god, no; I strongly DO recommend it! It's very powerful and it's an awesome and more creative way to get fit as well!

I just meant that, since a lot of dancing  that happens involves moving your hips and being all fluid and the  like, highland dancing is quite the opposite heh heh. We were also dancing like 4 times  a week, 4 hours at  a time, not always on sprung floors.but we took pride in our injuries, dammit!

@ Zamm: oops! my bad. carry on :)

PERFECT TIMING

Arkells have just announced, via Twittar, that they are filming the video for this song today. They're working with the same team they did for Kiss Cam.

Hi Lana :) thanks for the Sneaky Dee's nacho recommendation, can't say I've ever had nachos quite like it!

I don't dance well despite yeeeeears of various kinds of dance training. so I stick to singing along loudly. As for retired dance moves, I guess dirty dancing/grinding in a non-joking way-- haven't been able to do that with a straight face since high school! It just makes me think, "hmm, what a strange mating ritual we are engaging in."

alcohol definitely helps quiet that voice though.

hey lana! I'm leaving for convocation in like 15 minutes-think you could play'New Goodbye or There's an Arc by  Hey Rosetta! before then? they are awesome dance tunes!

if not...maybe play 'em sometime during the show today so these lovely people can soak up some Newfoundland goodness?

thanks lee!

Laurita, Hey Rosetta! coming up after King Khan!

Laurita

Good! Contrats!

@kn0ttyn3rb: did I miss some talk of Sneaky Dee's? I effin' loved that place! The nachos were just the start.

Their Saturday night "Shake a tail feather" dance parties are SO MUCH FUN! Has anyone been??

@BLee - My heart is broken that I didn't see you too.  You are the very first R3er I ever met.  Gosh, it was almost three years ago now!  Hope those studies are going along well back in NB!  When you get your MS, come to California to celebrate!

@Laurita - Contrats - and you should totally wear your highland dancing gear and just dance across the stage to accept your diploma.

Don't forget your piper though.

@ Thelceman: ahaha! I'll see what I can do.

@Laurita

Congratulations!!!!

Laurita & Iceman

Socks and sandals are usually frowned upon but I think those socks would be applauded.

aiight, see y'all later!

thanks again lana for doing this so fast!

If there is going to be a Banjo O'clock happening at some point today, I have a recommendation for The Schomberg Fair, if they're in the system. They opened for Larry and His Flask last night, not bad and definately some upbeat banjo playing.

Hi Krista! I miss TO already.

Anybody want to do something in TO on Saturday? I have an info session to attend at 830am but I'll be free whenever it ends...

New Purity Ring "Fineshrine"

@kn0ttyn3rb: I'm an unabashed carnivore but I gotta say that even Sneaky Dee's vegan nachos are GREAT!

Speaking of Highland Dancing, I have to throw a little plug for my hometown in here. Lil'babyTdotNS has a bunch of Tree Sculptures carved out of dead Elm trees (dutch elm disease). One of the statues is of a Highland dancer doing the ol' highland fling. Runour has it its based on Stephanie Turnbull who was a national champion at highland dancing. So there you go. You can view the guide to the statues here if you want to for whatever reason.

zammachus -- The one Saturday that I have to go to Markham... bleh.  But may I suggest a nice patio or something?  It's going to be HOT.   

@flannel tom - I LOVE when people do that with dead trees instead of just cutting them down! It's so cool! There a bunch all over London too. :)

Sneeky Dee's nachos have nothing on the nachos you can get at McGuire's pub in Pensacola, Florida.

I know thems are fighting words, but I stand by it - as does my brother.

I dunno, Amigos nachos are pretty damn good.

@ kathyjean

Something like that, which is pretty ironic considering they’re now one of the hottest new bands anywhere. 

forehead*

The Shaggy Pony nachos never go soggy

Purity Ring -- aren't they touring with the Dirty Projectors this summer?  They definitely garnered a lot of buzz very quickly.  

@garf - this morning when you said hello from sunny witton-gilbert, I looked that place up.... I don't think the shaggy pony is a real place! I was shocked! And Appalled. You need to open a pub by the name of Shaggy Pony.

i might get to the dance topic in a minute but i just have to say how hugely unimpressed i am that i had to listen to an ad before i was able to get onto cbc!!  i am walking away from the computer due to this.  i will miss you all if i can't get over this crap!!

Speaking of Sled Island, there will be a Halifax extravaganza BBQ and or Pool Party featuring Cousins, Monomyth and Dog Day. Maybe others too but that's the main scoop right there.

@Morgana - while I agree that it sucked (and more the second time after I'd listened to an on-demand song and then switched back to R3), if it's only one commercial and it means we get the music like this, I am willing to live with it. That said, if it becomes like the on-demand videos where it was one brief commercial to three or four over and over, I might have to search out another option.

@ FT #126

You're getting old Tom! 

@flannel tom- Oh man! Don't tell hedgeway! He'll be way jealous!!

@f&b - I know! But I have never been into the techno as the kids say, I'm more into fuzzy garage rock!

@morgana (and anyone else that complains about the ad) I don't like commercials, but if it helps keep our beloved CBC around in face of scathing funding cuts, then I am more than willing put up with 15 seconds of ads for hours of the music I love.

@steph - Re tree sculptures - There is a really hilarious one there locally known as "Old Humper". It's supposed to be the first police chief and his dog but it looks like the dog is humping the man's leg. It's amazing and every tourist to Truro should go find it. Stop by the Stanfields factory outlet afterwards and pick up some discounted underwear and you've got yourself a real deal Truro experiance!

@ICEMAN: I agree. It's sad that it's come to this. It's as if one of your best friends stopped using deodorant (for some reason beyond his/her control)--you don't just cast that person aside, you just maintain the friendship while noting that it stinks. 

Do you dance? Yes, constantly. Luckily all my friends are also big fans of dancing (dudes included). My weekend usualy revolves around where I can go bust a move. Top fav places in no order: Babylon, Zaphod's, Timekode, a friend's house where Dj Slippery Pete is djing. This is what happens when one of your best friends is a dj.Ever have a mishap on the dancfloor? Yes, constantly. You gotta break a few eggs to make an omelette. Once my friends and I were all cutting some rug at Timekode (Ottawa dance party once a month) when I slipped and fell onto the floor. However, I didn't miss a beat and continued dancing on the floor. So much arm flailing. I even danced my way up to standing. Erin was an eyewitness to this. I have also fallen doing limbo on my birthday. My friends and I usually fall a lot as we are big fans of "getting low".

Signature Move: As previously mentioned my friends and I like to "get low" - but not in the bitches n' bling rap video sense, moreso in the awwww look at those five-yea-olds doing the chicken dance and squatting a lot. It is a common occurence to walk over to your friend and yell "LET'S GET LOW" and then you preceed to kind of do the twist until you are practically at the ground. Once a lot of alcohol has been consumed there is a lot of falling, and the next day a lot of sore legs for noobs. I feel like Zammy has been witness to this. The next morning everyone is like "oh wow we got sooo low last night!". I personally cannot describe my signature dance move, but I know Erin has tried to describe it to me.

Any you've retired: Nope. My dance moves are like a fine wine, they only get better with age.

I feel I got some of my moves from this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js-fofbYCs0

I didn't even read Erin's post and we wrote the same story hahahaha

@KOD 130 - I am amazed at how much the sexy dance moves video looks like the Dad Dance moves that Garf found.

@Steph - proper thing. If you are going, I'll forward you a list of waterfalls as per a previous discussion. And also, my sister in law is opening an artist collective storefront thing this summer so you should check that out too.

Do you dance? --Do I breathe? Isn't that why music was invented?  The running, biking and yoga I do: it's all just cross-training for the dance floor.

I never understand when I go to a concert and people are standing not dancing. Ummm... there's rhythm, so get moving. I think I can dance to just about any type of music. I may look like a fool, but life's too short to worry about such things.

HI BRENDA!  re:95

I miss TO and you too! NxNE was too fun...I want to do more than 2 and half days next year. 

You know why Baptists have a problem with sex?

It can lead to dancing.

Lana, this is perfect to wake me up! <3

Becasue Erinev posted a story about me I am posting a story about her and a dance floor mishap:

Erin and I were in Dublin, Ireland out at some dive bar fulllll of 20-somethings (and probs younger), not the most sober we've ever been (far far far from it) when Dragonette "Hello" came on (this is in March 2011). Erin and I had just recently just seen Dragonette live, and we constantly dance to their music. So obviously as we are near the bar and not near the dancefloor Erin makes it her priority to get to the dancefloor as fast as physically possible. She basically pushes her way through the crowd, throwing elbows and yelling about how we are Canadian, and this is our song, and that Dragonette is from Canada, while leaving a wake of spilled drinks and angry Irish people behind her. I follow apologizing. Once we get to the dfloor, we quite literally cleared a space on the dancefloor for our moves. And we just yelled the words. Any boy who tried to approach was quickly scared away by our enthusiasm. They played the song again later that night and despite being seperated by other circumstances, we found eachother and once again rocked out.

@stevierayk: HA!

@KristaMark: Can I convince y'all to come to Sappyfest in August? :)

# 161-- can we go back to march 2011 please?

@erinev, kidc: You guys are my favourite. hahahaha.

@CMAC: I will never again hear that song without doing the dance as described. 

if anyone ever comes to Ottawa you can experiencing getting low in person.

Hey, what is it called when girls (I guess a guy could do it too) do the booty shake thing? you know the one. Classic rap video maneuver. I'm pretty sure it has an actual name aside from booty shake.

@smalliebigs the only thing is i dont know how to accurately describe that you face sideways and then turn the other way when you switch arms...

I saw them do this the first time I saw them live (on the street in toronto) when I fell fully in love with them.

I was crushed their album didnt make the long list. my only failure as a jury member. 4/5 aint bad though!

re: get low - it's not dropping it like it's hot right?

I can do that...

but havent been able to since my knee injury...

unless i've been drinking ha.

I bet KC gets low in Windsor next week.

@CDNz1: I can make this happen. Also in Peterborough, Oshawa, Hamilton, Kitchener, London and Toronto.

I learned all of my dance moves from Bill Nye the Science Guy... for prom, I yelled "do the invertebrate!" and started squirming on the dance floor. It didn't catch on. So I guess that's a retired dance move.

@KidC - I hope you do the "get low" when you are rockin' out on the violin!

This is a set dreams are made of Lana!

#189 Probably should have been a comma in there, dreams are not mad of Lana - wait maybe, I don't know, forget it.

@erinev: I will let you know. I may be there in September!

I am still in Toronto, I will head out in a few minutes to the airport... wont be back in PDX until 11:30 PST

Has Never Stop by Chilly Gonzalez (or however you spell it? been played) because dancing should never stop.

WOOOOOODHANNNNNNNDS

I wish we could play Death Grips on here.

getgetgetgetgotgotgotgot

@smallie 198 - yes, that is pretty much exactly what it was like, minus the outfits (it was more of a shorts and flipflop crowd), the head butting and slapping and full on brawl! When I found the reggae stage later, I was sooo relieved and I just light stepped my way through the rest of the night!

@Brenda 192 - Likewise, I need all the friends I can get!

@ Kirk - correct you are, how does one go about watching Spaced, it's not on Netflix? Did you get on the down low, download?

of*

@mcl totally. "Hey guys, I figured out a way to estimate future billings based on a trace method that is accurate to within 0.4% overall by listening to Ohbijou!"

Actually R3 keeps me sane. I don't spend time at work trying to figure out what I'll listen to, unless I have a really specific focus that day. I can dive in to a problem and there's soothing background music.

@Eric - Except you think he's hilarious which is just insulting. :(

OK, it's set, we're all going to Ottawa to GET LOW!

re: 208-- such a great time. if ONLY my highschool dances had been that much fun!

at theiceman

you can get both seasons, as well as a TON of great other features, in one DVD set, otherwise there are slightly... less legal... ways of watching/streaming/downloading it online. 

Party on Radio 3

@Airick: later!

@theRadiohead, no problem.  Trust me I had the same reaction as most of you had.  And the way we've implemented it, is better than it was originally conceived, in my mind anyways.

Hi ALLLLLL - i've been off this for a bit, but just heard that Moon Face is coming to my town! I haven't seen them and havent really heard much of them, but since this will be the first CBC related band to come to my good ol state of Arkansas, I'm working on plans to go...so has anyone seen them live?

I really love the Synthetica Album. I listened to it this morning on my bike ride into work and beat my record (for the year). Good cadence! 19 km in 35 minutes!

I struggle to see the difference between streaming music and downloading pirated music. While I do acknowledge that we should be paying musicians for their hard (and sometime brilliant) work, I'm not sure that I see streaming as more ethical than downloading. Didn't CBC music come under fire for making a bunch of music accessible?

@mcl yes. There's a lawsuit going on alleging that the amount being paid by CBC is less than what the artists think they should be getting. Apparently for-profit radio pays more per play or something. Streaming is better than downloading (pirating) because it pays some money, but services like Spotify pay much less than an artist would earn by selling a record.

@Munch: streaming and downloading can be distinguished in a number of ways--not the least of which is the ability to take a downloaded track, copy/give it to a friend, stream it, etc. All you can do with a streamed track is listen to it. There's also the issue as to whether or not the streaming site has a license to stream and passes $ on to the artist/label--some do, some don't. 

@Airick - I did not know you were from Portland, so good to meet you, and I look forward to seeing you again soon.

Cheers!

@ Lana yayyy Austra!! thanks for the shoutout to my twitter profile!!

@erinev #238, And in the darkness binds them?

I love that I stop by quickly and there's a full fledged Nacho War going on here! I love the Kings Crown and Sneaky Dees. I'd love to try Amigos nachos someday. And with the King's Crown I'm usually full by the time I get to soggy chips. You all know you have to dig in quick when it shows up, right?

OFF TOPIC:  Slushy drink esophogal freeze. 

@Lana - How about playing some Hollerado - The boys put on a really nice show at Yonge Dundas Square, and I am happy to see that they have developed a very enthusiastic following of Yonge fans who seem to know all the words to their songs and sing along.

Much fun.

@ #240 yup, we are the home of the Stone Pony and all things Bruce Springsteen. Though Bruce actually grew up in Freehold, NJ which is actually the town I work in. I can't escape The Boss. literally.

@Me - edit - Should be young fans NOT Yonge fans.

@erinev #256, Heathen

Icee - I thought "Yonge Fans" was pretty clever.

understanding*

*Doing 'The Wait'*

Thanks Lana!! Woot!

@Musicsoop/Iceman #255 - I thought the same thing!

hahahaha

@ErinEv: if you understand the Constitution you may be streets ahead of our current government in at least one respect. 

@garfieldul: you are. you live in the united lingdon right?

@ smalliebigs [265]- BABOOM

nobody call the fire department. Lana's on fire with the dance tunes today. *chair dancing*

Is this my double rainbow unicorn dance playlist?! :)

Lana can you play Boom Ha by Smalltown Romeo ft Shad - it was on HBO's GIRLS a few weeks ago!!!

#273 - I second this!

@Ftom: I think we can commit to one Simpsons link per blog day, yeah?

@FT #276 - how about some "I CAn't Believe It's Not Butter"

that actress, Emma Chambers, won a ton of cash off Dawn French for betting she couldn't pull of that speech. it just kills me for some reason. so funny.

Also, when did $19 become the standard price for Fish n Chips?  Is that an LA thing?

OMG I found The Safety Dance! Would you want to hear it or not?

Off to do work and shop for Tall Tree Festival groceries.

Laters friends, see you next week...again...

@Lana #283, Yes please!

Okay. I'm back. Oy, is it ever unpleasant out there.

@musicsoop... probably depends on the type of fish. halibut is a lot pricier than cod, for example.

@Lana... safety dance: definitely!!!

Although it's nicer than I expected. Humidity is under 60% up on our hill.

@zammy: you missed alot o talk about Ottawa dance parties. You are one of the few who have experience one.

@LANA: YES TO SAFETY DANCE! I need someone to tell me to "give it a chance"!

@Soop- the York does great fish & chips for $14 (still pricey but a bit better). tho, mind you, that's Highland Park. but they're terrific & worth the trip.

flagpole music: Hmmm....

OMG has Fancy Footwork by Chromeo been played yet? this MSTRKFT song + safety dance + fancy footwork would be amazing.

i bet i missed it.

stupid sleeping.

remember when i said i had to go do work? Argh!

@soop - does that display an interest in hitting the York sometime? because I'm totally on board. We would also have to order the spicy lemon chick pea appetizer, mind you.

@ zam [295]-- true dat

What?! I want to hear the Safety Dance!!

Yes to safety dance!

Oh for Cods sakes, let's all have a Fish'n'Chip's party, just for the halibut.

the Safety Dance is kind of like... weird skipping while putting your arms in an S shape... isn't it? 

I'm gonna have to watch the video now. 

@flannel tom [313] - I just laughed out loud... but just one "HA!". it was great. Thanks.

@PollyDarton - 304 - YES - Napoleon Dynamite's dance routine definitely qualifies for the good/sexy dance moves the actual best and worst dance movies.

Flaggy - Next time I'm over that way.

@soop - it's a deal. I know I don't get that way much either. tho, it's pretty easy from the train for me. There's a DASH that stops a block away.  They do live music & get good crowds. I mean to start nagging Ryan about booking some Canuck bands. BROOD would be a good match for them.

@FP 322 - Well with the $100 fish and chips in LA I'm not surprised. Is that fish gold or goldfish?

I have no idea what just happened! Talk to fast! Ahhhh!

"Everybody dance, look at your hands"

On acid?

@old abe #326, according to whatprice.co.uk the average price for Fish & Chips is £3.30 ($5.28)

I'm not certain you want to eat the fish in LA's harbour.

[333] yeah, I was just thinking the same thing. Who'd eat the fish from around there?

that was steph

@Steph 334 - and very large breasts.

Okay now I'm hungry.  I went with the Shepherds Pie at a much more reasonably priced $13. Hoping it can make 2 meals.  Adios ya'll.

@soop - haha. agreed. but I meant they have a place you can deliver fresh fish. from actual boats. from water where you can eat the fish. but I know it doesn't pan out like that.

I had this place recommended but haven't tried yet. Fisherman's Outlet

Bon Appetit Tim!!!

Umami Burger Releases Its Secret Sauce

#347 - HI-O!

<3 This song. :)

Did Hot Mess happen at any point today?  Great dance song!

incidentally - noone should take my picture as a personal reference to them. I just found it funny

<-------

What a great show of awesome dancey tunez, today Lana! :)

Great show today Lana! 

What...no truffle shuffle!? then again, I haven't seen anyone pull this off on the dance floor...