This is not a racist stereotype.

[Shadow Man]

Is there a genetic link as to why black people are better dancers than us white brothers.

They tend to have leaner bodies, but so do Asians and they are hardly Michael Jacksons are they?

Or is merely culture?

[Shadow Man]

Sorry I mean RACIAL not RACIST!!!!!!

[daffy654]

I have no idea shadow man,I once had a black female friend who couldn't dance at all,we used to beg her to sit down so that people would stop pointing and laughing.

[B00]

Someone obviously forgot to tell John Travolta that then!

[kyra16]

lol boo...
shadowman...true that a bunch of my black friends can dance like crazy
but...on the other hand i have a couple white guy friends that can dance reallly really good too...
so...not really answering your ? ..sorry lol

[Shadow Man]

I am talking percentages!!!!!

On the whole, our coloured cousins are better groovers than white folk.

[China Doll]

I heard white men can't jump too.

[delboy3]

...and damn better runners, too! Just look at any 100m final.

I think whites are generally too stiff - I couldn't dance even with 5000 volts up me arse.

[earsugar]

I go clubbing and to a lot of dance festivals and you dont see many black people at trance/breaks/house events.

I always wonder why?

I would put Mr Timberlake up their with the likes of Usher and MJ thou.

Then there is Fred Astaire, wayne sleep, billy elliot lol

[andrea81]

As far as I know people have always told me that black people are good at dancing and singing and running, but I'm not sure how true it is!

I was told once that certain races from Africa are very good at long distance running as they have longer (or an extra) muscle in their leg. Again that could be just a load of rubbish! But again look at the talent of black people who do other running sports.

[cruella]

I have to agree Shadow Man to a certain extent.
The majority of them have a great sense of rhythm to music. It seems to come naturally to them too.

[jake-the-peg]

I have heard that there is a difference in the Achilles tendon that gives black runners a very tiny edge.

I don't know if it's true - I can't find the original source but a difference is supported to some extent by this evidence:
http://ajs.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/35 /8/1308

Of a much higher prevalence of ruptures to the Achilles tendon in Black soldiers in the US.

Don't see why it would affect dancing though

[daffy654]

Maybe its more of a cultural thing than a genetic thing. My mum's best friend is a black lady originally from Antigua and she always danced with her children when they were very young,she sang to them a lot too.

[Pippa68]

Again I am reminded of this from Eddie Murphy...excuse the language, but it is so true!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9f0EVt-VbOs

[cazzz1975]

I know one thing, dads cannot dance, the older they get the worse it gets...

[Shadow Man]

I know this was one reason so many blackmen died in Vietnam because when the Sgt Major shouted "Get Down", they all got up and danced!!!

[saxy_jag]

Where did you get the impression that it could be a stereotype, racist or otherwise?

It also depends on what type of dance you have in mind. Jackson may be able to do weird things with his body in time to music (What is it? Breakdancing?), but that's a world away from, say, ballet, tap, Irish or Indian dancing. I wouldn't say there's a predominance of black people in any of those forms.

Like white people, there are black people who are good dancers, there are black people who are bad dancers. I've never heard of them being thought of as better by dint of the fact that they are black.

[chitchat]

Great at running and dancing. But they are cr@p at swimming.

[EngTeach]

IMHO I think it has a lot to do with culture. After 10 years
at my school which is mostly African American and West indian I have noticed a certain freedom about body image and confidence. In addition to the freedom expressed with dance I also have noticed less hang ups about body size.
For example many of my black coworkers who are heavier than i am will wear shorter, more form fitting clothing than I will. I don't mean too tight or cheap looking, but for example I will not go sleeveless. These women look tastefull but have a much healthier attitude about "letting it all hang out" than most white women I know. There is an appreciation for
what the kids call a "thick" woman that is not so true in White America. Though I have noticed a marked decrease in heavier girls over my years there.

I believe the self confidence comes from a certain type of attitude and upbringing. It is not really tangible, but I have observed it.