I have an odd 'social' issue - WWYD

Go along - grab a seat & a table in the club and be the drinks monitor. Just tell them you don't dance.

I'm kind of the same although I will have a little dance if it's a particular song I like and I'm very drunk. I usually just find a table or stand by the bar and watch. I'm quite happy with this although usually I get irritated with people's attempts to drag me on to the dance floor. If I'm happy then leave me be ?

Thats a toughie- I kind of know what you mean, I used to be on the dance floor all night when i was a bit younger but now I feel really awkward and self-conscious dancing. I find that there are usually one or two people at any given time not dancing so you could chat to them? alternatively you could get so drunk that you fall asleep which is probably be the option I would go for though maybe not the best idea. I hope you have a good time any way-I would try not to dwell on it too much if you can.

I agree, just go along as normal and find table to sit at. Chances are there will always be one or two not dancing at any given moment anyway so you will not be sat there alone. Tell them from the start you don't dance, and just smile pleasantly at the attempts to drag you up. I don't really dance that often - mainly because I look like an outtake from the brady bunch when I get into the groove.. lol. That being said I will if I am in the right mood for it..

This seems a good idea - can you be the "Handbag and Drinks Monitor?

I'm not a great dancer myself and know what you mean when you say that people think they can "persuade" you (usually by pulling with unnatural force on your wrists) or somehow think you are not having a lovely time just because you're not dancing.

Are there one or two people you really trust in the group you can explain this to so they can chivvy people away from you if they start?

I have the same problem. im very tall and all legs and have not a bit of co ordination. I love music and will happily sit and tap my feet along to the music but when it comes to dancing i just can't/don't and no one understands. I constantly get dragged up and look even worse as a result. I wish i had the answers but i just stopped going out! x

Yeah I guess I could be drinks monitor. I think that's why I don't bother going clubbing as that's what usually ends up happening which isn't much fun, all be it of my own doing.

sorry didn't mean to shout and can't edit it smaller or less bold!!!

I'd go, grab a table, and then just see how you feel. From experience, 80s nights aren't like regular clubbing, there'll be a real mix of ages and people doing mad loon dancing is quite normal, plus for me there's something about the songs that I find it nigh on impossible NOT to dance to (whereas a club with 'dance music' leaves me cold and yawning). I'd just go with the flow and probably I'd say something about a dodgy knee or back if people don't take no for an answer. OK so it might be a lie but what the hell ?. I DO dance but i also always need a seat as I *do* have a dodgy back and I simply can't dance/stand for any length of time, so I'm often the one minding the table as I don't want to lose the seats!

I know exactly how you feel, I don't dance either and hate that people don't take 'no' for an answer.

My worst experience was at a family wedding a few years ago. All the girls were dancing and at Indian weddings you often have choreographed dancing to set numbers. Seeing as my SIL's wedding was coming up I was expected to take part in one of these routines for her one. MIL thought it would be a good idea to get me to practice at this particular wedding and insisted I got up on to the dance floor. Bear in mind here that there was no alcohol involved and everyone was sober. I said no, but got a poke from behind and told to get up. Again I said no, this went on for a while with the pokes getting more firm and moving on to gentle shoving until I was almost pushed out of my chair and dragged up to the dance floor. Needless to say I wasn't happy, but I showed willing and threw a few shapes. At this point MIL realised that I wasn't kidding when I said I couldn't dance, she was laughing so hard she could barely gesture at me to stop and take my seat again.

If I go out with friends I'm always the bag monitor.