In Germany, fun is guaranteed with a wide variety of events to go dancing. In this post, I’ll share with you what has impressed me the most and some fun experiences I’ve had dancing in Germany.
Apartment Parties
The first time I was invited to an “apartment party” in Germany, I was really excited. Before heading out, I dressed in my best outfit and practiced my forbidden dance moves. However, when I arrived, I was surprised to see that no one was dancing. Everyone was comfortably seated on the couch, enjoying beers and playing board games.
Despite being called “WG-Party” or apartment parties, most people prefer to sit and chat comfortably. But don’t worry—dancing still happens in Germany. After the gathering, most people decide to go to a nightclub and enjoy a night full of dancing. Luckily, that day I managed to dance, although I had a bit of a shock at first.
Free Dancing
Have you ever felt afraid of making a fool of yourself while dancing? Honestly, it has happened to me several times. However, everything changed when I attended a nightclub in Germany and decided to use the basic dance move—moving my hips and knees to the rhythm of the songs. It was then that I noticed a couple of people doing really funny and extravagant moves. I realized that what I truly wanted was to enjoy the freedom to dance however I wanted, inventing my own steps without worrying about what others might think. Since then, I’ve embraced the idea of free dancing and understood that everyone can express themselves in their own unique and authentic way.
Here are some of the free dance moves I’ve invented over time: “sweeping the floor,” “changing the light bulb,” “grating Parmesan cheese,” “showing the way,” “the hurried duck,” and “the rebellious puppet.” Each move has its own essence and distinctive movement that can be interpreted uniquely by each person. I leave it to your imagination how these moves might look and invite you to join in this idea, which, to be honest, fits perfectly in nightclubs.
Salsa and Wrestling
One thing I’ve always enjoyed is going out to dance salsa, a hobby I’ve practiced frequently in Germany. Although I don’t consider myself an expert dancer, I excel in leading the dance and creating beautiful figures. However, more than once, I’ve found myself in situations where my dance partner also wanted to lead, which sometimes turned into a leadership struggle during the dance.
Over time, I’ve come to understand that in some dance schools where many Germans learn salsa, there’s a noticeable lack of male participation, leading many women to take on the role of leaders in dance couples.
The Latin Macho
At some Latin parties, I’ve noticed that some German women seemed uncomfortable dancing with me. At first, I thought of different possible reasons—maybe I smelled bad or they simply didn’t like me personally. However, I considered it just an anecdote without much importance. Until one time, I decided to ask directly if there was an issue, and to my surprise, the woman told me she was worried I might start dancing too close too soon.
This caught my attention, and upon asking a bit more, I was surprised to learn that, in most cases, many guys would start dancing very closely with women. When the women expressed discomfort, the guys argued that this was normal in Latin America, inadvertently leaving a bad impression. In Germany, this behavior is known as “Macho” and is generally perceived negatively.
Because of this experience, when I dance with a German woman, I usually ask if it’s okay to dance with contact. While it may seem silly, this often generates a lot of laughter and, at the same time, breaks the ice in a friendly way.
The Perks of Knowing How to Dance
Recently, I came across a TikTok video by a Latino in Germany claiming that, by dancing with German women, many of them would fall in love and take a romantic interest in him. Personally, I think this claim can’t be entirely accurate, as I’ve seen many fail in the attempt—unless he has some special secret.
What I truly believe is that dance is like a language that has the power to create deep connections with others. In Germany, dancing is considered more than just entertainment—it’s treated as a sport and is even offered as such in universities and colleges. For this reason, it’s admired and valued as something special, at least from my perspective.
The Group Dance Experience
Personally, when it comes to dancing, I’ve always preferred dancing in pairs. Although I’ve tried group dances on some occasions, over time, I discovered they’re not my favorite. On the other hand, in Germany, I’ve noticed that group dances are very popular, even in the context of salsa.
On one occasion, while I was at a Latin bar, I was enjoying the music and dancing with a woman when suddenly she grabbed me by the waist from behind and started pushing me. At first, I thought it was part of a new dance move, but I quickly realized something else was happening. Before I knew it, I found myself leading a long conga line of people that had formed behind me. It was a fun experience, but I still prefer dancing in pairs.
Conclusion
Despite the misconception that people in Germany don’t dance or dance poorly, the truth is that many will be pleasantly surprised when visiting a nightclub here. Additionally, it’s very common for people to learn to dance in dance schools or simply by attending events, just as I did back then. In my opinion, the purpose of dancing is not to be judged by others but to have fun and enjoy it to the fullest.
