I have circle danced for 10 years now and watched with growing envy, women dancers in loose flowing skirts enjoying an added element. That of playing with the material like a child might play with a whirling scarf or a cloak for dare I say it, bullfighting. Also many of the colours and designs are pretty fabulous when compared to men's clothes.
Eventually I got into a situation where I could put on a skirt and dance in it, and being in good supportive company I did. I was on a long weekend residential, dancing away in my own inimitable style, when another dancer said something across the circle. I didn't catch all of it so I just said "Oh all the time" as a temporising comment 'till I got the gist. It turned out to have been a comment about dressing up to dance. In the next break we decided to go for it and I borrowed a skirt from my friend Celia.
Several of the other men did also, so I danced in a skirt and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I did so again the next night but with fewer other men joining me.
That was last Christmas, and I have continued to have an evening or two of my long weekends dancing in a skirt. Celia has continued to help me with my outfits as has Jill, another friend. It has been particularly fun on lively dances and especially quick grapevines (or skipvines?) where the material has flowed silk in the wind. Also it has helped in my attention to detail as I had to stop looking at my feet, and pay more attention to grace(fulness)- no bad thing for me!
Now I would seek to assure you that I am not an emerging transvestite (but surely within circle dance that shouldn't be a problem even if I was?), it is the feeling of dancing in a skirt I enjoy, not just wearing one. However I know a few people women and other men have been a little uneasy about this, and the odd comment made. Would any other men (or women) care to comment on their thoughts and experiences in this area. I know several men have danced in sarongs, but a women's skirt is a stage further. (I tried a sarong also but found it difficult to fasten. Ultimately it ended being up being used as a tablecloth on a side table!)
To start you off here is what Celia thinks; "Most women in my circles would say that wearing a skirt adds a great deal to the experience of a dance, especially if it is fast, flowing and with turns. It is a shame that men don't often feel able to go for that experience too. Perhaps along with Women's Dance Workshops and Men's Dance workshops there is a place for Skirt Dance Workshops?"
This is a serious coming out and I would like to encourage other men to give it a go. (If you are going to come out don't be shy - do it on the Internet!)