It was as if he was in a trance state, and he got out of that trance state and could not believe what he was trying to do.

Many athletes use alert forms of hypnosis to improve performance through rehearsing images and sensations in a trance state - a form of 'virtual-reality' training for the brain.

Then he talked me out of the trance state and invited questions.

Of course, he also failed to respond to any questions he was asked while in his trance state.

As in many group folk dances one talk of sometimes reaching a trance state because of repetitive music, and physical exertion.