Your mayor dances. A lot.

Joe Hogsett two-steps with elevator operators. He line-dances with senior citizens. He prances with cheerleaders. He dad-points with teenagers. He boogies down parade routes. He shimmies. He's got his own variations on the can-can, the swim and the running-man.

And if you closely examine any of the videos shared on social media catching Hogsett's moves, you'll see a touch of whip/nae-nae-ing and just a skosh of Gangam Style — though perhaps both accidental.

This all leads to a single, salient question: Why?

"The short answer: I'm moved by the spirit," Hogsett said, laughing. "Frankly, in the 18 or 19 months that I've been in the office, it's even surprised me how many opportunities are presented to you. It’s something that just comes naturally to me.

"But whenever I do dance, I will tell you to the extent that it's captured, my children are absolutely mortified. They plead with me: 'Stop, Dad, stop dancing.'"

His frolicking was first caught on camera when he danced like a bee with Indianapolis Public School kids after declaring Indy a "bee-friendly city" last April at the Indianapolis Artsgarden.

It started innocently enough: A gentle flutter of his wings, off to the side of the action.

And then, without warning, he picked up the pace a bit and hummed toward the hive of IPS students.

A few months later, he kicked it (see what we did there?) with some kids at the 500 Festival Kid's Day on Monument Circle.

"So much of this job is hard, and the community events that you attend as mayor, it really does give you a time to relax and be with people," Hogsett said. "Most of the meetings I attend are profound and serious, so every once in awhile, if you’re out in a community event, you can engage in a little fun."

In March, he learned to line dance with the Young Heart Senior Line Dancers at Washington Park.

Hogsett made sure to note that, at 60, he's eligible to join the 55-and-up group.

"I have never been bashful to engage in good-at-heart and good-natured fun because I think it shows a human side," Hogsett said. "In parades, for example, it's certainly more personable than a handshake."

He was at Project Indy's summer kickoff event for youth employment at Bankers Life Fieldhouse when he heard Beyonce.

And that's when the dad-pointing began.

"I've been accused of many things in my life, but one thing I've never been accused of is having rhythm," he said. "I don't think anyone who has seen the videos of me dancing needs more any more proof than that."

In perhaps his most viral dancing moment, a Crispus Attucks cheerleader pulled Hogsett out onto the gymnasium floor during the school's state championship rally in April.

Hogsett said he's following in the footsteps of former Mayor Bill Hudnut, who never said no to having fun with city residents.

"It's kind of an Indianapolis tradition that our leaders can show a softer and a more human side," he said.

Hogsett's dancing career began in college, he said, when he discoed "a lot." But most recently, the longtime elevator attendant Denise at the City-County Building taught him the two-step.

They'll practice the dance once or twice a week.

"I've learned a lot in the 35 years that I've been in and out of public life, and after those years, I have learned one thing if not as well if not more importantly, you can't take yourself too seriously."

Most recently, the mayor was spotted attempting to learn choreography at Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration in June.

His office staff has gotten used to the dancing, he said, but only because it's better than the time he joined swimmers on Pack the Parks day.

"My staff was completely unnerved when I did a cannonball off the diving board," he said. "They said, 'look, we're not big fans of your dancing, but we'll tolerate it as long as you keep your shirt on."

Video footage provided by Joe Hogsett's office.

Call IndyStar reporter Amy Bartner at (317) 444-6752. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.