Tony Manero was right.
His moves from a popular 1970s hit film are still the rage, according to researchers.
Academics have come up with the elusive answer as to why certain dance moves work well - while others draw unwanted attention from desired mates.
Researchers studied the freestyle dancing techniques commonly deployed by out-of-step men in clubs and at parties in hopes of finding the right combination to attract interest.
Dr Peter Lovatt (pictured), a psychologist of performance at Hertfordshire University, is in Scotland this week to attend the Edinburgh International Science Festival. He explained that dancing was the modern human equivalent of courtship displays used by other species.
He said on Thursday: "There's a relationship between a person's level of testosterone or their level of oestrogen and they way in which they move. And it's thought from an evolutionary-psychology perspective that the function of this is that we are trying to attract a mate." (See more from Dr Lovatt, including examples of the right and wrong way to dance.)
The academics believe men who dance in a "small circle", simply moving their feet – also known as "the shuffle" – will decided keep the mates at a distance. They also believe dance moves that are extreme – often seen during a wild wedding party – are additionally unattractive.
So what is seen as appropriate?
Ask Tony Manero, John Travolta's character from the box office hit Saturday Night Fever.
If he's not around - or perhaps dancing down at the club - then ask Dr Lovatt.
The psychologist - and former professional dancer - said highly coordinated and complex dance moves, such as the point-and-shake gestures were seen as the most attractive.
"It is all about how we communicate through dance," he said.
