Is there a such thing as being too overweight to dance?

13

Replies

  • quixoteQ
    quixoteQ Posts: 484
    Any excuse not to dance is a good one.
  • knittnponder
    knittnponder Posts: 1,953 Member
    I know a lady who teaches belly dancing and she's well over 200 pounds. She can do the moves and she loves it so more power to her!
  • alfiedn
    alfiedn Posts: 425 Member
    Sounds like you won't know if moves are difficult until you try them! Also, a challenge means there is room to grow, so it's not necessarily a bad thing...

    Go for it and deal with injuries IF they come up. :)

    I've seen some overweight people who were surprisingly amazing dancers (way better than I will ever be) on the audition shows of so you think you can dance. Luckily, the judges always commend people, regardless of size, as long as they are good. Unfortunately, they really are looking for people to become or who are already professional dancers, so I haven't seen any overweight people make the show. I think it has to do with lifts, maybe? Unfortunate.
  • Iwantchange_22
    Iwantchange_22 Posts: 49 Member
    yes. its when your so obese you cant move.
  • Myhaloslipped
    Myhaloslipped Posts: 4,317 Member
    You can dance if you want to!

    YzEolTB.jpg
  • MsValerieAnne
    MsValerieAnne Posts: 90 Member
    I don't think so, no. You may not be able to do all of the moves you want too do, but you can dance other moves/do other dances. :)
  • cathiaflock
    cathiaflock Posts: 112 Member
    No such thing; just do it at your own momentum and level. Try Jazzercise. It is aweome.
  • KristinaB83
    KristinaB83 Posts: 440 Member
    Have you ever heard the sunscreen song? It was a speech made into a song with some great advice in it. Part of the advice given in the song was:

    Enjoy your body, use it every way you can
    Don't be afraid of it or what other people think of it
    It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own
    Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your own living room

    Great advice!
  • JennaHW
    JennaHW Posts: 19 Member
    I joined a women's gym because I could never feel comfortable in a co-ed gym and eventually, I would drop out and stop going. I'd waste the membership. So this year I made a decision to find a gym that was for me where everyone is the same and doesn't judge you. The women's gym was the best decision I ever made because I met young, old, fat, thin and people like me there. Everyone is really encouraging and it didn't make me self conscious anymore.

    IF you have a women's gym, maybe you can ask for a 7 day free trial pass to see how you like it. Most gyms will give that to you. Check out their classes. They might have dance classes, zumba and a bunch other classes.

    IF you love to dance, you should just keep doing it. Forget what other people say. People can be hurtful without thinking. Do what you love.
  • thefatveganchef
    thefatveganchef Posts: 89 Member
    chris-farley-chippendales-o.gif
  • MeRoHa
    MeRoHa Posts: 95 Member
    I am in the same boat at you. I want to lose and love to dance. I was doing the treadmill, tried to make it less boring with music first and then Netflix. I easily lost interest. Then I got a Wii last year and have enjoyed using it more to get fit. I got Just Dance and dance at home and have been able to stay motivated.

    You can do it! I wish you the best of luck! I will add you as a friend!

    I have three of the Just Dance for Wii. I have been trying to get an hour of exercise a day since starting my weight loss journey in late July 2013. I dance because it is fun, it makes me less stressed and it is definitely burning calories and toning me up.

    Just find whatever type of dance works for you and keep at it.
  • TattedInStilettos
    TattedInStilettos Posts: 332 Member
    Worrying what ppl think of you will get you in an unhappy place love... I live by it's never a right or wrong time to show how good you.feel... go dance your life away...
  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    I weigh 225 pounds and dance regularly. Zumba, line dancing, hoop dancing, all kinds of swing, blues...

    The only dance style I feel uncomfortable with is tango, which requires putting more weight on your partner than any other style I am familiar with.
  • Wow, more replies? Did not see that coming. I suppose that's good though! I LOVED that dance video that was posted. Amazing. Also, I had no idea about that with Tango, but then again, I haven't really thought that much about taking tango lessons. Riiiight now, my top two are salsa and belly dancing! (Salsa first though, get some courage built up. :D )
  • Velum_cado
    Velum_cado Posts: 1,608 Member
    Girly, I started *pole* dancing at a higher weight than you are now. You'll be fine.
  • sbarella
    sbarella Posts: 713 Member
    Wanna dance? Dance! Dancing is awesome and people will bla-blah no matter what. I was 25lbs heavier when I started ballet. Just be nice to your joints.
  • VelveteenArabian
    VelveteenArabian Posts: 758 Member
    If you ever get the chance to take belly dance, you have to try it! There are a lot of larger bellydancers :) It's a wonderful workout.

    Seriously???? I mean, I like belly dancing, but I surely thought I was too overweight for that one. I've NEVER seen a large belly dancer...... Maybe I should look that up online. That would be fun.

    My old instructor was a good 250 lbs easy. I'm around way more "heavy" belly dancers than I am thin ones so much so that the skinny girls are the ones that stick out in the group. You WANT a little bit of fluff to Bellydance, you get way more applause.
  • VelveteenArabian
    VelveteenArabian Posts: 758 Member
    Wow, more replies? Did not see that coming. I suppose that's good though! I LOVED that dance video that was posted. Amazing. Also, I had no idea about that with Tango, but then again, I haven't really thought that much about taking tango lessons. Riiiight now, my top two are salsa and belly dancing! (Salsa first though, get some courage built up. :D )

    You don't need courage to Bellydance. We all stare at each others body parts on occasion but we are trying to figure out a move, not to judge.

    And who needs courage to dance at home?
    http://www.freebellydanceclasses.com/?m=1

    Fitness tv on cable has a show called Shimmy.
  • silverraiyne
    silverraiyne Posts: 683 Member
    I found these videos I thought you might like :happy:

    The first one is Whitney Thore, she's on a campaign to stop body shaming and is a wonderful dancer :smile:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZT1ocy5Ljxg

    This next one is Emma Haslan, she dances competition level pole dancing :wink:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh8oDdGemKE&feature=share

    Enjoy! :drinker:
  • moonport
    moonport Posts: 97 Member
    I am overweight as well (I weigh more than you do) and I couldn't live without dancing. I know first hand that there are a lot of people out there who will judge you for thinking you can dance, but you have to ignore them. My passion is musical theater and I have been lucky enough to work with directors who can look past my weight and see the passion and performance I can bring to the stage. I now work as a choreographer in addition to performing and no one could ever convince me I shouldn't be doing it because of my weight. Dance on!
  • beachgod
    beachgod Posts: 567 Member
    Go for it, it burns calories and is fun.
  • toadg53
    toadg53 Posts: 302 Member
    One of my all time favorite quotes: "Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth. Mark Twain " hope you like it too.

    I know it doesn't answer what you're asking, but really, if somebody takes exception to or looks askance at your dancing due to your size, why should you care? F 'em they're the one with the problem, not you !!
  • NavyKnightAh13
    NavyKnightAh13 Posts: 1,394 Member
    I am a dance minor at the university I attend, and technically I am still overweight for my frame.

    Do I let it stop me? Nope.

    Why? Because I love it and after trying every excuse in the book to not go back to it, the calling got too strong.

    Am I still the biggest one in the room? Yep How do I know? I did a dance concert last semester and with my mid section, it made me the biggest on film during rehearsals, but I got told by girls who have been dancing for years that I looked really amazing dancing out there after all was said done, even with being married and having a child (who is 2 years old btw).

    Will I let it stop me? Nope

    ETA: if you have the passion and fire within you, then don't let anything stop you.

    Just go out there and go for it!
  • Awww you beat me to it I was just about to post the link for Emma Haslam. I shall post it anyhow hehe, worth a read and a watch!

    http://www.lincolnshireecho.co.uk/WATCH-VIDEO-Pole-dancing-star-Emma-Haslam-proves/story-20563782-detail/story.html

    I believe anyone can dance no matter what the scale says.
    xx
  • souzan651
    souzan651 Posts: 42 Member
    No way! I have just watched an awe inspiring video of a fantastic young lady
    http://uk.screen.yahoo.com/nc-womans-fat-girl-dancing-235449611.html
    I really admire her confidence, she really is just fantastic!
  • No such thing.

    Also no such thing as:
    Too uncoordinated.
    Too left footed.
    Too tone deaf.

    YOU CAN DANCE IF YOU WANT TO, YOU CAN LEAVE YOUR WORLD BEHIND.......

    YOU CAN DANCE, YOU CAN DANCE.
  • No!