The trend on the dance floor has gone away from two-stepping at arm's length and moved toward the up-close and personal. Hips directly against hips, more commonly referred to as grinding. Nothing is more awkward that not being able to do it right, but you can take a crash course in grinding.
When you first hit the dance floor, relax and allow yourself to move to the beat; the easiest way is to sway your hips. If you're having difficulty, tap out the beat with one hand on your thigh and shift your weight from one foot to the other in time with the beat. Slowly make the movement more exaggerated with your hips.
Bend your knees a little and lean back against your partner. Grinding is all about the hip action--sometimes it's the only part of your body touching your partner's--so swing your backside from side to side, using your thigh muscles to keep you upright.
The guy will react in one of two ways: stay still and let you do your thing, or move with you. Both of these are good reactions, but if you feel uncomfortable at any time, step away from him. Typically, the more you lean back against him, the more he'll want to move with you.
Explore some variations on the theme. Side-to-side is the standard, most basic and most effective way to grind, but you can pop your hips backward (gently) into his or roll your hips against his.
Warnings:
- Don't let a guy with overactive hips push you around the dance floor. Remember that there is a time and a place for grinding; your sister's wedding with your parents watching is probably not the time or the place.