"[Being a dancer] is different because you're used to moving your body and being less restricted than guys normally are," says Josh S. Shirkey '98, who danced for several years before coming to Harvard and currently participates in a Radcliffe dance program.

Shirkey emphasizes the subtle difference between ballroom dancing and ballet, a difference which he says effectively separates the social connotations of couples dancing and solo performance for male dancers.

"There's a lot of pressure, from parents and peers, especially when you're young, that says dancing isn't the right thing for a boy to do," Shirkey says.

"[With ballroom] most people don't start until they're adults, and you don't really make fun of each other when you get to be grown up."

Male dancers may be taunted for preferring dancing shoes to football cleats, but a traditional macho image can also plague male dancers. Like the protagonist in "Strictly Ballroom," Shirkey says male dancers often find themselves stuck playing the stereotypical dance floor ornament.

"A lot of times people just expect the guy to walk on stage and throw the girl around," says Shirkey.

So what's the challenge? Why stick with dance if it's such a hassle?

"It's all about trying to get my body to do what I want it to do, within its own limits," Shirkey says.

Kimchi agrees that dancing is a constant physical challenge. As with any good sport activity, the more you learn, the more you want to continue playing.

"It's very easy to develop a basic proficiency," he says. "A little bit of knowledge makes such a difference."

But for many male ballroom dancers, the magic lies in an understood communication they share with their partner.

"It really is an unspoken conversation," Kimchi says.

Fung agrees that one of the best aspects of dance is the relationship between partners.

"I know if I do one move she'll respond in a certain way," Fung says.. "I don't have to say a word--we just become two bodies, moving in synchrony."

Face the facts men: dancing IS every Harvard man's dream. So grab a partner and get down to it: the only thing you've got to lose is the beat