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You Said You Couldn't Dance

 You Said You Couldn't Dance
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FeatureClass
 You Said You Couldn't Dance
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You Said You Couldn't Dance
 You Said You Couldn't Dance
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YouSaidYouCouldntDance
 You Said You Couldn't Dance
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Two characters have known each other for a while. The music starts and the man takes the woman by the hand, leads her to the dance floor, and proceeds to dance expertly. Stunned, she says, "You told me you couldn't dance!"
Some typical responses are:
"No, I told you I didn't like to dance."
"I didn't know I could!", or "I can't!", when he has gained some new ability via Applied Phlebotinum.
"I told you I couldn't jitterbug. I can waltz just fine," or some variant.
"No, you just assumed I couldn't dance." Related to You Didn't Ask.
"That was years ago; I took classes since then."
"I Lied."
Of course, this doesn't have to refer to just dancing — any kind of skill could be shown this way. Contrast with Informed Ability and the polar opposite: I Can't Dance. Compare Unaccustomed as I Am to Public Speaking... for a character who claims to have no skill with words before delivering the speech of a lifetime.
 You Said You Couldn't Dance
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2024-02-16T17:00:49Z
 You Said You Couldn't Dance
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2024-02-16T17:00:49Z
 You Said You Couldn't Dance
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Dropped link to Bookworm: Not an Item - FEATURE
 You Said You Couldn't Dance
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Dropped link to InvertedTrope: Not an Item - IGNORE
 You Said You Couldn't Dance
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DBTropes
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_1e703d1f
type
You Said You Couldn't Dance
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_1e703d1f
comment
Gilmore Girls:
Luke and Lorelai at his sister's wedding plays the trope almost word-for-word.
The trope is used for reading for Rory and Jess (naturally) in his introductory episode. He comments on her wall-to-wall bookshelves, dismissively, and when she asks if he reads, he tells her "not much." Later, he catches up with her to give her a book. It's one of hers, which he stole and annotated.
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_1e703d1f
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 Gilmore Girls
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You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_1e703d1f
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_222c2051
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You Said You Couldn't Dance
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_222c2051
comment
In the third season of Chuck, the upgraded Intersect provides several of these moments.
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_222c2051
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 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_222c2051
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 Chuck
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 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_2350acad
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You Said You Couldn't Dance
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_2350acad
comment
Cheers: In "From Beer to Eternity", Woody is set up to be a bowling ace, but freezes when he tries to help the gang win a match against Gary's Old Towne Tavern. Diane (who has been making fun of bowling the whole time) steps in and wins it for them. She took bowling as a college PE class but despises the game.
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_2350acad
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 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_2350acad
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 Cheers
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You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_2350acad
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_3840524e
type
You Said You Couldn't Dance
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_3840524e
comment
In 1776, after Ben Franklin dances with Thomas Jefferson's wife during "He Plays the Violin", they end up in front of John Adams. An awkward pause, a stiff bow, and then...
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_3840524e
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 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_3840524e
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 1776 (Theatre)
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You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_3840524e
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_3fe0a130
type
You Said You Couldn't Dance
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_3fe0a130
comment
In Ugly Betty, this trope is named word-for-word when Daniel is trying to one-up Sofia's boyfriend Hunter, who claims he can't dance but is actually much better than Daniel. He meant he can't dance well enough to be a professional ballroom dancer.
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_3fe0a130
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 Ugly Betty
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You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_3fe0a130
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_41b0198a
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You Said You Couldn't Dance
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_41b0198a
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The Dresden Files: In Death Masks, Harry sweeps Susan off her feet as a means to get away from some Mooks. She says, "You told me you couldn't dance," but it turns out Harry moonlighted early in his career as a dance partner for a senior citizen organization. He can't do rock-and-roll-type dancing, but ballroom is another matter.
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_41b0198a
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 The Dresden Files
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 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_49b9194f
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You Said You Couldn't Dance
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_49b9194f
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Yu-Gi-Oh! R had Reiko Kitamori, who is very shy and expresses how she doesn't enjoy playing Duel Monsters. Despite this, she is one of the most powerful duelists in existence.
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_49b9194f
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 Yu-Gi-Oh! R (Manga)
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 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_4e45b093
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You Said You Couldn't Dance
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_4e45b093
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In The Big Bang Theory the girls take Sheldon to a dance and goad him to go on the dance floor, assuming that he'll be a terrible dancer because of how awkward he usually is. Much to their astonishment, Sheldon turns out to be an excellent dancer, thanks to all the cotillion classes he was forced to take as a kid back in Texas.
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_4e45b093
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 The Big Bang Theory
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You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_4e45b093
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_53fdef82
type
You Said You Couldn't Dance
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_53fdef82
comment
In Snow White with the Red Hair the no longer practicing knight Sir Lata Forzeno claims he's managed to avoid balls for so long he's forgotten how to dance. Shirayuki discovers that he hasn't, nor has he forgotten how to make a girl step on his foot while making it look like she misstepped during the dance so that he can excuse himself from the event and escape to treat his "injury".
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_53fdef82
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 Snow White with the Red Hair (Manga)
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You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_53fdef82
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_5fd94766
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You Said You Couldn't Dance
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_5fd94766
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The Lucy Show: A non-dancing variation is done. At the beginning of "Lucy and the Pool Hustler", Lucy and Mr. Moody visit a ladies' pool hall. She tells him that she doesn't like the pool, and he proposes a friendly game, with a small wager. Lucy lags for break, perfectly.
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_5fd94766
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 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_5fd94766
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 The Lucy Show
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You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_5fd94766
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_7743ead
type
You Said You Couldn't Dance
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_7743ead
comment
In one plot arc of the second season of Duel Masters, Shobu and Rekuta are surprised to find that the daughter of the nearby civilization's gatekeeper doesn't like the card game. As events proceed, it is revealed that despite her feelings, she is incredibly good at it. Her disgust stemmed from the fact that her even-more-skilled father taught her how to play, and he was her only opponent; despite her talent, she had lost every match she had ever played.
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_7743ead
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 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_7743ead
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You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_7743ead
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_79ef1bd2
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You Said You Couldn't Dance
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_79ef1bd2
comment
A non-dancing example features in Quigley Down Under, regarding Quigley's apparent disdain for pistols: "I just said I never had much use for one. I didn't say I didn't know how to use it."
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_79ef1bd2
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 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_79ef1bd2
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 Quigley Down Under
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You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_79ef1bd2
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_7ac0e0b0
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You Said You Couldn't Dance
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_7ac0e0b0
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I Was a Teenage Exocolonist: If Sol dances with Symbiosis on their 17th birthday party, they expect him to be terrible at it, but he surprises them with his fluid dance skills.
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_7ac0e0b0
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 I Was a Teenage Exocolonist (Video Game)
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You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_7ac0e0b0
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You Said You Couldn't Dance
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_7f8d7a50
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From Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), the titular Mr and Mrs do a tango.
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_7f8d7a50
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 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_7f8d7a50
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 Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)
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You Said You Couldn't Dance
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_8df07aaf
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It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown had Charlie Brown do this...at the dance, after kissing the Little Red-Haired Girl, the rest of the evening is a blur. Linus tells him the next day that he danced with all the girls and was the life of the party, even though Charlie Brown didn't know how to dance before that.
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_8df07aaf
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 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_8df07aaf
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 Peanuts (Franchise)
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You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_8df07aaf
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_9b530c26
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You Said You Couldn't Dance
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_9b530c26
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This is a recurring thing for Jughead in Archie Comics; Jug is the epitome of Brilliant, but Lazy, so he tends to avoid any form of exertion. However, when a decent meal is on the line, Jughead displays Hidden Depths that leave most people (typically antagonists) stunned.
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_9b530c26
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 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_9b530c26
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 Archie Comics (Comic Book)
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You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_9b530c26
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_a2714bbd
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You Said You Couldn't Dance
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_a2714bbd
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A variant in The Hollowmen: Nick turns out to be knowledgeable in Australian history, but the reveals are in the reverse order.
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_a2714bbd
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 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_a2714bbd
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 The Hollowmen
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You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_a2714bbd
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_af2a147e
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You Said You Couldn't Dance
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_af2a147e
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Enchanted
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_af2a147e
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 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_af2a147e
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 Enchanted
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You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_af2a147e
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_b712435c
type
You Said You Couldn't Dance
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_b712435c
comment
In Leverage, Eliot Does Not Like Guns, and mentions it often. Other characters seem to assume he can't use them, but when backed into a corner he uses them to take out a warehouse full of armed bad guys.
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_b712435c
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 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_b712435c
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 Leverage
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You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_b712435c
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_c43df4d8
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You Said You Couldn't Dance
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_c43df4d8
comment
Doctor Who: In "The Doctor Dances", Rose is surprised to learn that the Doctor can dance, he is slightly offended that she just assumed that he couldn't dance. Before he can show her, though, they are interrupted. But they get to dance at the end with Captain Jack watching. It also crosses over with I Can't Dance because the Doctor appears to initially be somewhat rusty. In the Doctor Who Confidential it was said that "dancing" meant something else.
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_c43df4d8
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 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_c43df4d8
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You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_c43df4d8
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_cdae0b41
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You Said You Couldn't Dance
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_cdae0b41
comment
In Forever (2014), Morgan and Martinez visit a murder suspect when he's about to deliver a speech. He says he hates public speaking and then goes and delivers a well-received speech, afterwards telling a surprised Morgan and Martinez "I said I hate public speaking; I never said I wasn't any good at it."
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_cdae0b41
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 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_cdae0b41
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 Forever (2014)
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You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_cdae0b41
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_e7e37776
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You Said You Couldn't Dance
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_e7e37776
comment
Firefly: Variant; Mal, as a rough frontier type, was intended to be a terrible dancer for the episode at a formal ball. However, in practicing for the scene, Nathan Fillion got good enough that he could no longer convincingly portray a bad dancer. So they just added a line "I think this dance I actually know" and let him dance competently.
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_e7e37776
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 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_e7e37776
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 Firefly
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You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_e7e37776
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_ea169528
type
You Said You Couldn't Dance
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_ea169528
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In Ears for Elves, this and I Can't Dance are played with:
Tanna protests that she doesn't dance when Luero tries (and succeeds) to drag her into the dancing at the Taurëcuiva Festival, but she's actually rather good...
... unlike Luero, even though he told her to follow his lead. A few minutes after her reluctant entry to the dance floor:
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_ea169528
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 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_ea169528
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 Ears for Elves (Webcomic)
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You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_ea169528
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_ef5a6426
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You Said You Couldn't Dance
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_ef5a6426
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In Netflix's Shaft (2019), JJ repeatedly voices his disdain for guns, but turns out to be highly skilled in their use.
 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_ef5a6426
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 You Said You Couldn't Dance / int_ef5a6426
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 Shaft (2019)
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The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Peanuts (Comic Strip) / int_e0d9adc8
type
You Said You Couldn't Dance
 Adrift (2018) / int_e0d9adc8
type
You Said You Couldn't Dance
 Enchanted / int_e0d9adc8
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You Said You Couldn't Dance
 From Justin to Kelly / int_e0d9adc8
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You Said You Couldn't Dance
 Phffft! / int_e0d9adc8
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You Said You Couldn't Dance
 Quigley Down Under / int_e0d9adc8
type
You Said You Couldn't Dance
 Stoker / int_e0d9adc8
type
You Said You Couldn't Dance
 Death Masks / int_e0d9adc8
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You Said You Couldn't Dance
 Mars Diaries / int_e0d9adc8
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You Said You Couldn't Dance
 Chuck / int_e0d9adc8
type
You Said You Couldn't Dance
 Forever (2014) / int_e0d9adc8
type
You Said You Couldn't Dance
 Ugly Betty / int_e0d9adc8
type
You Said You Couldn't Dance
 A Growing Affection / Fan Fic / int_e0d9adc8
type
You Said You Couldn't Dance