How to Dirty Dance

When you’re trying to seal the deal on the dance floor, knowing how to really get down can make all the difference.

Step 1: Find a partner
Find a partner you can practice with. If you can’t find someone you’re sexually attracted to, just grab anyone.

Step 2: Loosen up
To learn to dirty dance you’ll need to loosen up. Wiggle around a bit. Get those limbs loose and limber.

Tip
Commit to looking silly. Remember, no one’s watching at this point and no one cares.

Step 3: Learn to grind your hips
The 'dirty' part of dirty dancing is all in the grinding of the hips. Practice on your own. Grind to the front, front, side, side, front, front, side, side. Now that’s dirty!

Step 4: Learn a basic step
Learn a basic rhythmic step on your own. Step right, then bring the left foot together with the right. Then do the opposite -- step left and bring the right foot together. Now a little faster. Step right, together, left, together, right, together, left, together. Good.

Step 5: Learn the basic hold
Learn the basic dirty dancing hold. The man grips his partner so his right hip is glued to her right hip, with his right leg between her legs and her right leg between his legs. As for the upper body, the woman should have her hands around the man’s neck, while the man has his hands on the woman’s hips and/or rear end.

Tip
The upper body can vary, but the lower body should always return to the basic grind.

Step 6: Learn a basic dip
A basic dirty dancing dip requires the man to slightly turn his partner to the right. While supporting her back, he lets her arch backward as she bends her supporting leg and raises her other leg as high as she can. She then drops her head back.

Tip
As you dip, kiss your partner seductively. Pay particular attention to the neck, shoulders, hands, and the upper part of the chest.

Step 7: Learn to spin
The basic spin simply requires the man to turn the woman by her waist, as she follows his lead through one, two, or even three turns.

Step 8: Both face front
From time to time, face front. The man turns his partner so she is facing out, with his body pressed against her back. The woman can either have her hands at her sides, or wrap her arms around the man’s neck. The man’s hands are on the front of her thighs and hips. Yes, very dirty indeed.

Step 9: Turn on some sexy music
Now it’s time to put these basic moves together. Turn on some sexy music.

Step 10: Get into a sexy frame of mind
Get into a sexy frame of mind. Sure, maybe you have the sex appeal of a used stamp. But right now you need to think of yourself as the sexiest person on earth. Feel it. Believe it.

Step 11: Let yourself go
Now put it all together, and let yourself go. Step together, step together. Spin. Step together, step together. Dip. Step together, step together. Grind, grind, grind, grind. Dip. Now that’s dirty dancing!

Did You Know?
The choreographer of the hit '80s film Dirty Dancing also choreographed the 2006 blockbuster High School Musical.