Social Dance Etiquette (courtesy of USA Dance)
The purpose of dancing is to love doing it! Social dancing is pure fun. This fun can be dampened by a snobbish, superior attitude and lack of consideration for your fellow dancers. A social dance is not a dance competition – your job is not to be the best-looking dancer on the floor but to connect with your partner in a way that is supportive and enjoyable for both of you. Partner dancing is not a performance, and it is not about winning or losing. It is an activity which is above all, fun, and will enable you to share your love of dancing and music with another person.
Social dancing is one of life’s rare opportunities for pure fun. It is important to remember, however, that dancing is a social activity which requires interpersonal as well as physical grace. Being a considerate and thoughtful dance partner can ensure a wonderful experience. Dance courtesy is even more important than a social dancer’s physical technique. It is not always intuitive, but it can be learned. To this end we provide you with the following guidelines of Dance Etiquette.
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Flyer illustrating floor movement and courtesy
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Brochure offering guidance on appropriate etiquette at social dances
MAY I HAVE THIS DANCE?
When you ask someone to dance, be sure to make eye contact with your prospective partner, offer our hand, and ask clearly, “Would you like to dance?” If your partner says yes, smile, offer your hand, and escort him or her onto the dance floor and into dance position. This will make your partner feel supported and at ease.
YES, THANK YOU, I’D LOVE TO DANCE
When someone asks you to dance, your response should be, “Yes, thank you, I’d love to.” In a social dance environment, it is customary to say “yes” when someone asks you to dance. In order for dancing to be a joyous activity, it is important that social dancers are supportive and kind to each other at all skill levels.
YOU DANCE DIVINELY!
During the dance, be sure to be aware of your partner. Smile and make eye contact, but don’t stare. It is fun to dance with a partner who is gracious and appreciative. At the end of the dance, ALWAYS say THANK YOU to your partner and begin to escort them off the floor.
WHEN TO SAY NO
When a person asks you to dance, it is appropriate to say no if you have danced with this person before and he or she has been physically or verbally abusive. It is also appropriate to say no if the person is obviously drunk or threatening in some way. If you feel that a dancer is physically dangerous to the other dancers, you should report the situation immediately to a Chapter Board member. Unless someone is truly offensive, it is not appropriate to say no because your partner may have poor dance technique. While dancing with this person may not be one of life’s peak experiences, a dance is only three minutes long and the experience will not kill you.
CIRCULATING
In a social dance situation, it is appropriate to dance with a variety of people. It is poor dance etiquette to partner up & dance with the same person all evening. Some will prefer certain dance partners to others, but it should not prevent them from accepting an offer to dance from a new person. If the same person asks you to dance repeatedly, for several dances in a row, it is acceptable to say, “thank you, but I’d like to meet and dance with some other people for a while. I’ll be happy to dance with you again late in the evening.”
CLEANLINESS IS HEAVEN AT A DANCE
Social dancing is a quasi-intimate activity requiring a degree of physical closeness. Good hygiene shows respect and consideration for other dancers. Dancers should bathe, use deodorant, breath mints, and wear clean clothes that will not be too hot. If you perspire a great deal while dancing, it is considerate to bring a towel and/or change of clothes. If you find yourself getting too sweaty on the dance floor, stop, dry off, & cool down for a bit. Your partners will thank you for it. Use a light touch with perfume or cologne. Some people are sensitive to fragrances.
YOUR PARTNER’S TECHNIQUE
Unless someone asks you directly to make a correction of their dancing, you should never volunteer criticisms of your dance partner’s technique. Know that your dance partner is doing the best he or she can. If your partner is dancing off time, view the situation as a challenge to dance to the same internal rhythms as your partner. Your partner is not dancing off time
intentionally. If your partner is physically hurting you, it is probably inadvertent. Stop dancing for a second, and say “I’m sorry, but you’re holding my hand a little tightly. Could we try again?” If you receive an inconsiderate response or your partner seems unwilling to modify his behavior, it is then appropriate to say, “thank you, but I’d like to stop now.” Social dancing should never be physically painful or dangerous.
HOW CLOSE IS TOO CLOSE
There is nothing more uncomfortable for a lady dancer than being pressed up against someone she’d rather not be pressed up against. For most people this would seem to be common courtesy but it is a frequent problem when a male partner believes the only “correct” way to dance is with full body contact. Your partner has the right to determine appropriate closeness regardless of what is perceived as the “correct” way.
FLOOR CRAFT
In order for a social dance to be enjoyable for all participants, it is crucial to be considerate & aware in your floor craft. No matter how much you may want to swing out, on a crowded dance floor your primary consideration should be respect for the other couples on the floor. You don’t have to dance big to have fun. At times, collisions do occur in the heat of the moment. When there is a collision, everyone involved should stop and apologize, regardless of whose “fault” it was. If someone has been hurt, you should make sure they are okay before you resume dancing. If necessary, escort the person off the floor to a chair and see if they need ice, a drink of water or medical attention. Careful observation of the traffic lanes in a ballroom can prevent mishaps. In Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Quickstep and Samba, dancers move in a counterclockwise circle around the floor. This circle is known as “line of dance”. The very outside lane of the line of dance is the “fast lane”; it is generally used by very experienced dancers who cover a great deal of ground. The inside lane is for less experienced dancers who may be moving a bit more slowly. Beginners and those who would like to practice the basic steps without traveling can stay on the inside of the circle, out of the line of dance completely.
GROUP DANCE ETIQUETTE
Many of the same dance etiquette considerations for dances also apply in a group class environment.
ROTATING PARTNERS
It has been proven that you will learn to dance 30% faster by dancing with a variety of partners. Sometimes, in our group classes, we have you rotate. Be sure to say hello and introduce yourself to your new partners. If you only want to dance with the same partner for your own personal reasons, you may do so by stepping out of the circle each time the instructor ask you to rotate. This way, it is clear that you are not part of the rotation. In order for dancing to be the joyous activity that it is, it is important that social dancers are supportive and kind to each other no matter what level the dancer is at. You should never refuse to rotate to a particular partner because you don’t think that person is good enough. Everyone needs to grow and learn. Rotating partners enhances your dancing.
THIS IS OVER MY HEAD!
If you really can’t get the step, you can tell your partner that you need to step out of the rotation for a minute to try to master the steps on your own.
IN CONCLUSION
Thank you for taking the time to review this Guide to Dance Etiquette. Keep in mind to use common sense, respect, and manners for an enjoyable dance experience for both you and your partner. We hope this will help you enjoy any dancing situation with grace and finesse. Now go out there and experience the pure fun of social dancing!
See you on the dance floor!
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