Men who look good on the dance floor make the fittest mates, claim scientists

Telegraph (U.K.) ^ | July 8, 2009 | Richard Alleyne

[Schnucki]

Scientists discovered that being able to pull off dance floor moves with the ease of John Travolta indicates strength and ability to produce healthy offspring

Researchers found that the men who women said looked attractive on the dance floor are actually physically stronger than those who are considered to have two left feet. This in turn indicates an ability to have strong children.

Researchers recorded video clips of 40 heterosexual male students dancing to the drum track of the Robbie Williams song Let Me Entertain You.

They found those whose moves were rated attractive and assertive by members of the opposite sex were physically stronger than the others whose gyrations were below par.

Information about the participants' clothing, their looks and body shape which could have produced bias was disguised by getting them to all wear white overalls.

Hand grip strength was also measured, according to the study published in New Scientist magazine.

Twenty-five female students then viewed the videos and rated the dancers for attractiveness while another 25 judged their assertiveness.

Even after controlling for body weight there were strong correlations between strength scores and both perceived attractiveness and assertiveness.

Dr Bernhard Fink, an anthropologist of Gottingen University in Germany, said: "We already know women use static cues such as facial and bodily characteristics in their assessments of men.

[tx_eggman]

Researchers recorded video clips of 40 heterosexual male students dancing to the drum track of the Robbie Williams song Let Me Entertain You.

Tax dollars at work solving the pressing issues of today's troubled world.

[Joe 6-pack]

I dance like old people fornicate: It doesn’t happen very often and it ain’t pretty when it does.

[OCCASparky]

Nuff said.

[ClearCase_guy]

Michael Jackson -- fittest father in the world.
Black males in general -- prime fatherhood material.
White guys -- unfit fathers.

[villagerjoel]

Those salsa dancing classes were worth it...

[Nervous Tick]

I’m hitting the abuse button... maybe the admin mod will pull this before Mrs. Tick sees it.

[John123]

Hey ladies! He is still single...

[Bushwacker777]

Strange, I don’t like dancing and I am far from being a good dancer but I have 8 extremely healthy and intelligent children.

[Woebama]

He will produce strong children.

[Red Steel]

But girls they won't mate with you because they are _______

[Tijeras_Slim]

I dance like a street mime with tourette’s syndrome.

[Perdogg]

I think you are too sensitive. I can see how evolutionary biology might have played a role in this.

[r9etb]

Hm. Seems to me (a devoted wall-flower who’s also a pretty good athlete) that “looking good on the dance floor” has a lot more to do with one’s attitude toward dancing than anything else.

[DoughtyOne]

In other important breathtaking news... flies are a nuisance. Those who control them make better lovers.

Does it get more infantile...

[Perdogg]

There was a line from “true Blood”.

"A woman in Baton Rouge told me once I danced like an epileptic on meth.”

[WOBBLY BOB]

[OCCASparky]

He will produce strong children.

But they'll still be freaks.

[dinoparty]

I am tall. It is much more difficult for a tall person to look good on the dance floor than a shorter person, yet from what I hear taller people get more chicks. What gives?

[ScottinVA]

“Men who look good on the dance floor make the fittest mates, claim scientists”

For whom?? OTHER men who look good on the dance floor?

[a fool in paradise]

Sure worked wonders in helping Michael live long and procreate.

[exist]

I suck at dancing. Thankfully women are money-grubbing. Whew.

[dinoparty]

Agreed. I get embarrassed even watching other people dance, even good dancers, especially if they are taking themselves too seriously. How can I dance myself and not be petrified? (and yes, I’ve tried alcohol ... doesn’t help)

[Miss Behave]

No. Thank. You.

[a fool in paradise]

Hey now, Hulk Hogan and John Edwards were both honored at a father of the year awards ceremony.

[Miss Behave]

It depends. Is Jean-Claude Van Damme a good dancer?

[The Duke]

I'm thinking this headline should be enough to bring Gary Larson out of retirement just long enough to do one last Far Side cartoon.

Some of his best were the "scientist" cartoons (and of course the "Beware of Doug" cartoon! - which still brings a smile to my face from time to time).

[a fool in paradise]

Dance like St. Vitus...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chorea_(disease)

[Drew68]

Wow. So physical fitness, agility and confidence appeals to the fairer sex? Whodathunkit?

[zerosix]

NO Research(?) coming out of UK need be believed as the "researchers" are generally "metrosexuals" whose only interest is in their own body hair, fat, butts, etc.

Lump the bunch with the food Nazis and the "Global Climate Change" nuts.

[Sig Sauer P220]

I always thought men who looked good on the dance floor were gay.

[Sig Sauer P220]

I dance like a street mime with tourette’s syndrome

So it involves a lot of silent cussing?

[Straight Vermonter]

Well he WAS a potential mate.

[Clock King]

Michael Jackson -- fittest father in the world.

Unn, yeaa...

[jiggyboy]

Tequila!

[Costumed Vigilante]

[Aria]

This guy can DANCE!

[Red in Blue PA]

LOL........is that ever funny!

[Red in Blue PA]

Who is that behind Hillary?

[kenavi]

Who gives a Damme?

[matt1234]