English

President of the United States George W. Bush dancing with members of the Euphonic Jazz Band in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, in 2008

Alternative forms

• dad-dancing

Noun

dad dancing ‎(uncountable)

1. The making of embarrassing flamboyant dance moves to pop music by middle-aged men.
   • 2004 June, “Dad dancing”, in BBC Northamptonshire:

     The first National Dad Dancing Championships were held in Northampton's Grosvenor Centre on Saturday, 19 June, 2004.

   • 2009 April 16, “How bad dancing can ruin your love life”, in The Times, London:

     I gather that he was a bit of a “dad dancer” – embarrassing on his feet, seeming old before his time. […] The moral of the story is to be aware of dad-dancing, or the display of any other behavioural oddities, when you first meet.

   • 2009 December 15, Matthew Moore, “‘Dad dancing’ may be the result of evolution, scientists claim”, in The Daily Telegraph, London:

     Middle-aged men who embarrass their children with flamboyant dance moves now have the perfect excuse – evolution. The cringeworthy "dad dancing" witnessed at wedding receptions every weekend may be an unconscious way in which ageing males repel the attention of young women, leaving the field clear for men at their sexual peak.

Derived terms

• dad dancer