12 Social Dance Partners Right Out of Horror Movies

"Count Dracula" | Dracula

Scary Because: Too much hair product, wears a cape with everything, and is a vampire. 

Dance Trait:  The invader of personal space. 

Social dancing is all about having a conversation set to music.  That doesn't mean a close-talking conversation, or a breathy, as close as a bluetooth headset, whisper in someone's ear - conversation. Dracula-types get in too close, and can make their partners wish they could turn into a bat and fly away. 

"Jason Voorhees" | Friday the 13th

Scary Because: Hockey-masked killer who can't be killed and has a thing for messing up camping trips.

Dance Trait: One dance mindset.

Predictable.  As a dancer the Jason-types are the one dance specializing types that limit their knowledge and opportunities to be more versatile.  As a movie character, we're suggesting that Jason's character should be auditioning for Hamlet, but his character doesn't seem to have much depth beyond his incredible collection of cutlery. 

Creature | Creature from the Black Lagoon

Scary Because: That flushed goldfish from your youth seeks retribution for your misdeeds. 

Dance Trait:  Smells like a creature who lives in a black lagoon.   

There should be nothing fishy about your personal hygiene.  If it's something you're aware of, signs of bad odor can be as rare as sightings of fish monsters.  Now, no one knows what that Black Lagoon fish creature smelled like, but we'd venture to guess it was nothing like Axe body spray. Since there are no fish monsters in existence, unfortunately the only smelly monsters left are those that test the limits of the olfactory receptors of the people around them.  

"Frankenstein's Monster" | Frankenstein

Scary Because: Giant walking mad science project with bolts and platform shoes.

Dance Trait:  Smashes into people

Nothing will make the social dancing townsfolk grab their torches and pitchforks faster than when they are the victim of a Frankenstein led human battering ram. 

"Michael Myers" | Halloween

Scary Because: Emotionless killer. 

Dance Trait:  Replaces social dancing with expressionless heavy breathing 

It's normal for there to be some gaps in conversation while dancing, but hearing nothing but breathing from your dance partner can go from uncomfortable to creepy within one lap around the dance floor. 

"Wolfman" | The Wolfman

Scary Because: Seems like a normal guy until that one inconvenient phase of the moon. 

Dance Trait: Calm, mild-mannered individual that goes crazy when on the dance floor.  

No full moon necessary for this Wolfman.  His wild animal side can be triggered by a song, a certain dance, or just dance floors in general.  

"Pinhead" | Hellraiser

Scary Because: Just his appearance alone sends your sympathetic nervous system into a tizzy.   

Dance Trait: Very (ahem) "needling" when it comes to feedback. 

This is the social dancer that inserts critical feedback like a pin in the "just having fun balloon".  

"Norman Bates" | Psycho

Scary Because:  Makes motels, your mother's clothes, and shower curtains scary.

Dance Trait: Has a running conversation with himself. 

It's one thing to give yourself a word of encouragement, but this person delivers a whole conversation.  Note: this does not necessarily mean that this character will wear a dress and pose as a follower, although you should never rule anything out.   

"John Ryder" | The Hitcher

Scary Because:  The movie reminder of why you should never pick up hitchhikers. 

Dance Trait: That dance partner that overstays their welcome. 

In general, the expected social dance norm is that you ask someone to dance, thank them, and look for another partner.  The John Ryder-type sticks around and is unaware of the social cues that it's time to move on, until you're left trying to kick them out of your car on some deserted highway.  

 "Pennywise" | It

Scary Because:  A clown.  Enough said. 

Dance Trait: Advanced dancer with no remorse. 

There are advanced dancers that love to dance with new students as a way of making them feel welcome and acting as a student ambassador to your studio - and then there's the Pennywise types.  The ones that derive pleasure by preying on the new and innocent ballroom dancers only to try leading them through oversways and contra checks with a fiendish clown smile on their faces.  

 "Leatherface" | The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Scary Because: Uses the flesh of his victims into stuff he can wear. Oh, and carries a chainsaw. 

Dance Trait: Stitches together impressions of other dancers.

We can all have our favorite dance consultant, or competitive dance professional, but the Leatherface-type dancer tries to mash together impressions of those dancers as a means to impress their partners.  

"Hawley Griffin" | The Invisible Man

Scary Because:  He's the human form of a hidden webcam.     

Dance Trait: Disappears at the sight of dance floors. 

As much as we'd like to suggest that this is a dance partner who struggles with Leading and Following, the Invisible Man really is that guy that is invisible when it comes to dancing.  They make excuses, laugh it off, or believe in some of the greatest myths about dance classes ever told - and so they choose to remain invisible.