You make me feel like dancing

There are times when a girl's gotta shake her thang.

--------------------------------------------------------------- By Tricia Koh

[February 02, 2001]
"Shake your Bon Bon." - Ricky Martin

I dance when I'm happy, when I'm down. Or when I simply feel like shaking that little ass of mine.

Dancing gives me a natural high, a feeling that I'm beautiful, sexy and very very desirable.

It's almost as if I'm at the top of the world, just having my own fun, and feeling absolutely delirious about it.

This feeling is amplified when I have an audience, when I know someone is checking out my moves and I know I'm grooving all right.

Once, a total stranger sidled beside me in a club and whispered softly in my ear, "I love the way you dance", before disappearing into the crowd. I couldn't stop grinning after that.

He could have been drunk, a total liar or maybe it was merely a cheesy pick-up line. But at that time, it just felt like I was the happiest person on earth.

But even if the audience is only me, myself and I, it's fine as well. Call me silly, but dancing to my favourite tune of the day before I go out almost always guarantees a good day ahead.

Some days, I'll pick my favourite song, turn up the speakers and dance while looking at myself in the full-length mirror in my room. Most of the time, I would actually enjoy seeing what I'm seeing.

Then I'll get carried away and dance, and dance, and dance. And end up late for work, for dates, for whatever I'm supposed to do.

"Hey Mr DJ put the record on, I wanna dance with my baby." -Madonna

Music. I'm totally grateful to the people who created music, beats, bass and drums. Whether it is the tubthumping sound of house, techno, the smooth grooves of R&B, rock, or kiddie candy pop (oh yeah, Britney Spears), I get absolutely crazy.

Especially when the DJ spins my favourite track because that's my song; I know the lyrics, I know where the beats go faster or slower and I know the perfect moves to go with that song.

Certain songs get me in different moods. Like the way ABBA's Dancing Queen makes me feel beautiful even though I'm not seventeen and the way Destiny's Child makes me proud to be an independent woman.

How I Will Survive offers comfort everytime I get dumped, and how I'm Horny makes me feel, well, horny.

Of course there are times when I just can't dance, be it the rowdy crowd, a drunk friend, the lousy sound system or that new pair of killer heels that just didn't cut it.

Or times when my legs, hips and arms decide to have a mind of their own. And when my stupid strapless bra keeps slipping down.

Suddenly, everything feels wrong and I get a lousy loser feeling. Then I'll check out the other babes who are having a great time and start cursing at my choice of company, club, shoes and yeah, bra.

"You make me feel like dancing, I wanna dance my life away" - Leo Sayer

I think I'm one lucky girl because most of my friends generally feel the same passion I have for dancing, except a few who goes clubbing just to drink or get picked up or look pretty or whatever.

But mostly, I love the spontaneity of being with friends who, upon hearing a good tune, get excited and then rush to the dance floor.

Some of my girlfriends even coordinate their movements so they look like those cute bouncy cheerleaders back at school. Completely goofy but adorable.

And some other girlfriends of mine will do the sexy rubbing-my-butt-or-groin-against-yours kind of thing that gets the males totally crazy.

Another friend of mine, when pissed-drunk, tends to do the gongfu fighting thing. When this happens, we leave her alone.

As for me, I like to do my own thing and because I don't drink, I remain sane and completely aware of the way I'm dancing.

I like that because I feel in control of myself and I'll know whether I look like a fool. Most importantly, I like to be aware of the euphoria I feel when I'm bright and everything feels just right.

At the same time I can check out other people and if I see something I like, I'll improvise and try to come up with something of my own. If I can't, I'll secretly admire them.

Then I will scan the crowd and laugh at people with the most hilarious dance moves.

Sometimes when I feel naughty, I'll try to spoof these people until they find out what I'm doing and start glaring at me. I'll go "oops!" and throw an apologetic smile because when I do these things, it's in the name of fun.

But like I said, there are times when I just don't feel good about the way I dance. So when all else fails, I'm thankful for my CDs and mirror at home.

Tricia Koh, 20, works in broadcasting.