Dear Kathryn,
While I agree that Tucker’s debut dance did not go especially well, I
think he did very well all things considered. He isn’t as young as
some of the competitors, but more importantly what he does
professionally does not require the physical awareness that a dancer,
model, or athlete needs. I am an amateur competitive ballroom dancer
(and a conservative, otherwise I wouldn’t be reading the Corner), and
I have taught some introductory ballroom classes. People who have no
dance or athletic experience first have to learn to be more aware of
their bodies, how they carry themselves, where their weight is
balanced. Then there are the steps and particular movements. The hip
motions inherent in latin dancing are very difficult for most men to
get; I suspect it gets more difficult to learn as one gets older and
more dignified. It’s very easy to feel utterly ridiculous trying to
make figure eights with one’s hips. I hope that Tucker isn’t the
first one kicked off the show, as I suspect he will be much better at
the smooth/standard dances (like waltz, foxtrot, quickstep). In many
ways they are much more dignified and elegant than the latin dances.