New research suggests evolution is to blame for daggy "dad" dancing.

It's that time of year again when a festive drink or two loosens the inhibitions of even the most mild-mannered of middle-aged men and they decide to take to the dance floor for a bout of daggy "dad" dancing. Whether it's your boss, grandfather, uncle, brother, friend or even your own dad, we've all witnessed the display that's like a train wreck — you know it's bad, but you just can't look away.

Scientists from the University of Hertfordshire in the UK have released the findings of a study which may provide serial dad dancers with the perfect excuse, with research suggesting it may be the result of evolution, the UK's Daily Telegraph reported. The research team has suggested that the embarrassing dance moves may be a subconscious way ageing males turn off the opposite sex, leaving the playing field open for younger, more fertile contenders. "The message their dancing sends out is 'stay away, I'm not fertile'," Dr Peter Lovatt, a psychologist involved in the study titled Dance Confidence, Age and Gender, told the Daily Telegraph.

I don’t think I have seen too many examples of daggy dad dancing in our R&R gigs but the moral of the story may be that for you blokes who are “fertile” & seriously looking for soul mates on the dance floor then investing in a few more dance classes may well get you more bangs for your buck?