市场调研机构 YouGov 替 BBC 体育电台做了一份就男性是否跳舞的调查。在参加调查的一千名男性中，有超过三成的男性说他们几乎从来没有跳过舞。导致这一现象的原因到底是男性不会跳舞，还是他们不想跳舞？本集《随身英语》探讨男性不跳舞背后可能存在的原因及鼓励男性重归舞池的方法。

课文内容

Vocabulary: dancing 词汇: 跳舞

Are men able to dance? Well, if I am an example, then no – I have two left feet and taking to the dance floor just fills me with dread. But of course, we know that most of us have the potential to throw some shapes, so what is it that's stopping us?

If you've ever watched glamorous and glitzy dance shows on TV, like the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, you'll know that there are men who have great dexterity and fancy footwork on the dancefloor. These professional dancers have spent years learning and performing ballroom dances such as the waltz, foxtrot and tango.

But for a majority of us men, we still prefer to spectate rather than participate. And according to a survey commissioned by BBC Radio 5 live, over three quarters of British men have never or rarely danced. It found that over a third of men surveyed wouldn't strut their stuff, let alone perform a paso doble, on the dancefloor because they were too embarrassed. And ten per cent said what put them off was fear of being the centre of attention, being made fun of, or being judged.

Women may say we have to get a grip, get on our feet and just let ourselves go! Easier said than done. But what helps is a crowded dancefloor where there is safety in numbers. And according to the survey, many men need a drink. One man questioned said, "I don't think I'm very good at it and therefore need some Dutch courage to get me on the floor."

One place where the alcohol is flowing is usually at a wedding, so, maybe unsurprisingly, the BBC survey found that 75% of men had previously danced at one. These are also the situations where partners of boyfriends and husbands can persuade them to move to the groove of the music! However, this is the time to witness some 'dad dancing' which is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as: "An awkward, unfashionable, or unrestrained style of dancing to pop music, as characteristically performed by middle-aged or older men." Surely that's not me!

So let's face it, us men just need help. We need training, we need to practise and we need to lose our inhibitions. One convert, Gareth Dew, who took part in the survey, says, "I think to be able to dance you need to be able to let loose, be aware of your body and generally be more comfortable in yourself." Would you agree?

词汇表

two left feet “两只左脚”，跳舞时舞步笨拙
dance floor 舞池
throw some shapes 跳舞
glitzy 耀眼夺目的
dexterity 敏捷度，娴熟性
footwork 步法，脚步动作
waltz 华尔兹舞
foxtrot 狐步舞
tango 探戈舞
spectate 观看
strut one’s stuff（为引起他人注意）夸张、卖弄地跳舞
paso doble 斗牛舞
centre of attention 瞩目的焦点
get a grip 放下负担，试着去跳舞
safety in numbers 人多保险
Dutch courage 酒胆，酒后之勇
move to the groove 跳舞
dad dancing “爸爸式舞姿”（较笨拙、过时的舞步）
unrestrained 不受限制的
inhibition 拘束，顾虑
convert 行为已经转变的人
let loose 放松

测验与练习

1. 阅读课文并回答问题。

1. What type of place are dances like the waltz and foxtrot often performed in?

2. According to the BBC survey, what is the biggest reason why men won't dance?

3. True or false? Men think dancing on a crowded dancefloor is dangerous.

4. What can help give men the courage to start dancing?

5. Which term used in the article refers to a period in your life when you are no longer young but are not yet old?

2. 请在不参考课文的情况下完成下列练习。选择一个意思合适的单词填入句子的空格处。

1. Claudette has a bad foot so couldn't take part in the swimming gala so she had to ______ instead.

get a grip let loose spectate convert

2. My son is very shy at school and hates being the ______.

centre of attention centre and attention central attention centred attention

3. After a couple of drinks she lost her ______ and started talking and laughing loudly.

Dutch courage two left feet dexterity inhibitions

4. I was invited to a very ______ showbiz party, where I met loads of celebrities!

unrestrained glitzy convert paso doble

5. I tried ballroom dancing lessons but to be honest I've got ______ so I gave up.

two right feet two feet left two left feet feet and two

答案

1. 阅读课文并回答问题。

1. What type of place are dances like the waltz and foxtrot often performed in?
A ballroom.

2. According to the BBC survey, what is the biggest reason why men won't dance?
A third of men surveyed said they were too embarrassed.

3. True or false? Men think dancing on a crowded dancefloor is dangerous.
False. Men like to dance on a crowded dancefloor because their bad dancing cannot be seen as easily – it is 'safety in numbers'.

4. What can help give men the courage to start dancing?
An alcoholic drink – it gives them 'Dutch courage'.

5. Which term used in the article refers to a period in your life when you are no longer young but are not yet old?
Middle-aged.