But for Mr Larson, not being able to dance was a mere technicality when it came to catching the eye of Shirley Larson (nee Smith).
The couple first met outside a dance at the Dunedin Town Hall more than 60 years ago.
Mrs Larson said she was on her way in to the dance with her sister and some friends, when Mr Larson drove by and asked where she was going.
''I told him we were going to the dance, but he told me some bull story about how he had sprained his ankle and he couldn't dance that night.''
It turned out he really could not dance at all.
''And I still can't unless I've had a couple of whiskies,'' he said.
Despite their obvious differences, the couple got together and found a new social event to attend - motorbike racing at the Tahuna Speedway on Saturday nights.
''That was the thing you did in those days. If you didn't dance, you went to the speedway,'' Mrs Larson said.
The couple eventually married at St Matthew's Anglican Church on Stafford St on October 17, 1953, and yesterday they quietly celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at their Mosgiel home.
Both said 60 years was a long time, and attributed the longevity of their marriage to making sure they did not take each other too seriously.
''If you can't beat 'em, join 'em - that's about right,'' Mrs Larson said.
''We're great friends and we laugh together a lot.
''We have our arguments, but we always make up.''
They hope to officially celebrate their anniversary next Thursday with dinner for two ''somewhere in town''.
