Dance and Social Etiquette

Have you ever been dancing and feel your heel crunch down on something?  You turn and a fellow dancer is grimacing in pain and giving you a look that threatens to get even.  Perhaps the shoe has been on the other foot, per se, and you have been the recipient of someone else’s kicks, jabs, or slaps on the dance floor. 

Dance Etiquette

Offers to Dance

·         Both men and women are encouraged to ask others to dance.

·         If the person you want to dance with is with a companion, ask for the companion’s permission before extending the offer.  Unless the dance has been promised to the companion, the companion should graciously consent.

·         If you must decline an offer, do not dance the same song with someone else.

·         If you must decline an offer, it would be nice to offer another dance later.

·         Do not ask the same person for more than two consecutive dances.

·         To avoid monopolizing a particular person’s evening, do not repeatedly ask that person to dance.  Diversity your requests. 

·         Dancing with more- and less-experienced dancers improves your lead/follow skills.

Dance to Your Partner’s Skill Level

·         Gentlemen, when you start to dance with a partner you don’t know, take your time until you have determined that she can follow you.

Line of Dance

·         Dance traffic travels in a counter-clockwise direction on the dance floor.  This is called the “line of dance.”

·         Faster-traveling dancers should stay on the outside lane with slower dancers on the inside. 

·         More stationary dancers should stay in the center area.

 

 

Floorcraft

Floorcraft is the skill to move on the dance floor in a controlled manner with regard to your partner and the other dancers.

·         The leader is responsible for navigating the dance floor and should anticipate the movement of other dancers to avoid collisions. 

·         Incoming couples should carefully step onto the floor to avoid couples already dancing. 

·         If a collision is imminent, the leader should pull his partner close and turn, so that he absorbs the contact.

·         The follower should alert the leader to obstacles behind him.

·         Traveling dancers who wish to do stationary moves such as cortes, developes, oversways, or other moves that interrupt or oppose the line of dance should do so without impeding the flow of other dancers.

·         If you encounter a slower group of dancers, dance a few turns or rock steps until the crowd dissipates and then move on.  If the dancers have clustered to one area of the dance floor, it is permissible to dance to an empty space on the dance floor even if it is against the line of dance.

·         Do not stop dancing to greet friends or converse.  If you want to talk, take it off the dance floor.

·         Do not take aggressive steps, or perform aerials, kicks or stop abruptly on a crowded floor.

·         Look before changing lanes or extending outward arm movements.

·         When traveling on a crowded dance floor, bring your arms close to your body to avoid contact with other dancers.

·         If you bump into someone or accidentally kick or step on someone’s foot, please apologize whether it was your fault or theirs.

At the End of the Song

·         Thank your dance partner.

·         Applaud the musicians to let them know how much you appreciate them.

·         Gentlemen, escort your dance partner to her seat.

Dance Lessons

·         When a group dance class is in session, please keep socializing to a minimum or go outside to converse.  Loud conversations are distracting to the dance students and the instructor.

·         If you are in a group dance class, let the instructor teach.  The instructor will ask for your help if needed.

·         Do not offer unsolicited teaching on the dance floor.  Unsolicited teaching is one of the more common breaches of dance etiquette as it can be humiliating and takes the fun out of dancing.

·         If someone does ask for help or instruction, kindly take them off to the side away from the other dancers.

Social Etiquette

Personal Hygiene

·         Before coming to the dance, please shower and apply a deodorant.  Brush your teeth and use mouthwash or a breath mint.

·         Avoid foods that produce strong odors such as garlic.

·         The odor of alcohol and cigarettes can also be annoying.

·         Use fragrant products sparingly, such as perfumes, colognes, or hair styling products.

ATTIRE

·         Dress appropriately for the event.  Guidelines for what to wear are outlined on the Dress Code page of this website.

·         Accessories such as large rings, bracelets, watches, brooches, loose/long necklaces, and large belt buckles can be hazardous on the dance floor. They can catch in your partner's clothing or scratch and bruise the skin.

·         Hats should be removed while dancing.

·         Outfits and accessories should be comfortable, safe, and also reflect the level of formality of the dance event.

Food and Drinks

·         Do not carry food and drinks across the dance floor as spills create a safety hazard.  All such items should be carried around the perimeter of the dance floor. 

·         If you accidentally spill something on the floor, please clean it up immediately.

·         Alcoholic beverages that are not purchased from the Country Club bar are not permitted.

Clean-up

·         You are responsible for removing items that you brought into the ballroom.

·         Return drinking glasses to the bar before leaving for the evening.

·         Properly dispose of any cups, plates, napkins and eating utensils.