The other dancers were embarrassed themselves, which meant that they weren't actually embarrassing; they weren't doing much more than tapping their feet, and the only way you could tell they were dancing at all was that they were facing each other but not looking at each other and not talking.
In Nick Hornby's "About a Boy," a scene captures a group of dancers who display a sense of self-consciousness rather than genuine movement. Their embarrassment creates a paradox where they inadvertently become less embarrassing; their actions are minimal and only distinguishable by their positioning and lack of eye contact with one another.
This highlights a theme of social anxiety, where individuals feel the pressure of expectations yet are unable to engage fully. The dancers' behavior reflects a common human experience of trying to fit in while feeling disconnected, showcasing the complexity of social interactions in a seemingly simple setting.
