The Dance Cure: Why We’re Answering Dr. Lovatt’s Call
Have you ever stood on the edge of a dance floor, watching couples spin effortlessly, and thought to yourself, “I am just not that kind of person”?
If so, you aren't alone. You are suffering from a cultural symptom that Dr. Peter Lovatt—a psychologist and passionate advocate known as "Dr. Dance"—has spent years trying to heal.
“A large portion of society thinks that they are not the right type of person to dance. Because we take something that’s really fundamental and natural and expressive in movement, and then we codify it. We make it very strict, We judge people for it. People feel self-conscious when they do it, and then people stop doing it.”
At Underhill’s Swing and Shag Collective, we consider Dr. Lovatt a partner in our mission. He has perfectly articulated the barrier that keeps so many wonderful people off the floor: the transformation of dance from a joy into a test.
The Diagnosis: "Codification"
Both Swing and Carolina Shag began as "vernacular" dances. They weren't born in a classroom; they were born in living rooms and crowded clubs. They were languages spoken by ordinary people to express survival and joy.
But Dr. Lovatt is right: over time, we "codified" them. The focus shifted from how the dance feels to how the dance looks. We started obsessing over the perfect slot or the exact foot placement. Suddenly, beginners weren't worried about having fun; they were worried about failing.
The Remedy: Underhill’s Approach
We agree with Dr. Lovatt that it is time to reverse this trend. We are taking his insight and putting it into practice right here in Colonial Heights.
Inspired by his work, we operate on a simple philosophy: We teach the steps to give you a language, but we dance to have a conversation.
Here is how we are answering Dr. Lovatt’s call:
We Reject the "Right Type" Myth: As Lovatt notes, society makes us feel we aren't the "right type." We believe if you have a heartbeat and a willingness to connect, you are exactly the right type.
Connection Over Rules: We fight the "strictness" Lovatt warns against. If you miss a step but maintain a connection with your partner and the music, you are succeeding. We value a messy, joyful dance over a perfect, soulless one.
A No-Judgment Zone: Because judgment kills expression, we remove it. We teach our students to look at faces, not feet.
Join the Movement
Dr. Lovatt reminds us that dance is "fundamental, natural, and expressive." It belongs to everyone.
If you have been sitting on the sidelines, we invite you to join us. We aren't here to grade you. We are here to help you reclaim that fundamental joy. Let’s prove that connection is more important than codification.
About Dr. Peter Lovatt: Dr. Peter Lovatt BSc, MSc, PhD is a Dance Psychologist who heads the Dance Psychology Lab at the University of Hertfordshire. After working as a professional dancer in musical theatre, and overcoming a severe reading difficulty, he took degrees in Psychology & English, Neural Computation, and Experimental Cognitive Psychology. He is the author of the academic text Dance Psychology.
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