Many species' males display a courtship "dance" to attract the ladies; a new study looked at what human moves were most appealing to women.
The research team used advanced three-dimensional motion-capture technology to determine what causes women to think some men are good dancers while others not as much, a Biology Letters PDF reported.
The team looked at 19 male dancers and recorded their activity using a "Vicon" motion-capture system. The men's dance move were then turned into avatars and 39 females were asked to rate them for dancing quality. The initial sample contained 30 men between the ages of 18 and 35.
The team found whether or not the dance was perceived as attractive was mostly related to "the central body, including neck and torso; legs, including knees, hips and ankles; and arms, including shoulders, elbows and wrists," the study reported.
The speed of the right knee was found to be important, but the speed of the right knee appeared not to have an effect on the men's perceived "attractiveness."
The ideal male dancer would show a great variation of movements; perform twisting movements of the neck and torso; and quickly bend their right knee. About 80 percent of the study participants were found to be right-footed.
Research has shown that women prefer "vigorous and skilled males; such cuesare derived from male motor performance that provides a signal of his physical condition," the study reported.
The researchers suggested human male movements could also be used to portray factors such as "health, fitness, genetic quality and developmental history," but further research will be required in order to confirm this idea, the study reported.
Future studies should systematically manipulate the dance moves that we have identified as being most important, and assess the effects of such manipulations on female perceptions of dance quality, the study reported.
EXAMPLE OF A "GOOD DANCER"
EXAMPLE OF A "BAD" DANCER
