Social Dancing

do's and don'ts

Social Dancing Courtesy at first may seem to be a very old-fashioned idea. Yet consideration and politeness for others is timeless and will always be appreciated. The following few paragraphs teach a few broad guidelines and, if followed, will contribute a great deal to the enjoyment of your dance time and to other people enjoying theirs.

It is quite normal in a number of dance clubs to dance with different partners throughout the evening, therefore it is only fair to at least dance the first and the last dance with the partner with whom you came.

Before a man asks a woman to dance, it is advisable for him to watch her dance first with someone else and carefully take note of what she is doing. This is so he won't cause her any embarrassment by launching into a death defying routine, especially if this is her first dance event.
The same applies to a partner whom you have never met before. Start off with the basics and gradually build up. If your partner finds difficulty doing something , then just smile and enjoy doing something that she can do.
Do not try to show off. No one likes a show off at the best of times, least of all at a dance evening and with a new partner.
If you go to visit a dance event and you are without a partner, and many people are in this situation, avoid trying to monopolise that one partner for the whole event. If things work out alright, then you can make a date to visit again as a couple.

Women should remember that it often takes a lot of courage for a man to ask a woman for a dance. If a man does come over and ask you to dance with him, try to be flattered and agree to dance with him. If he is really not to your liking, then you can make your polite excuses should he come and ask you again. At least, you have been courteous and allowed him to dance with you.
If you are a beginner or just shy, the man will appreciate your modesty in telling him this so that he should not launch into his very own version of "Saturday Night Fever" or some such nonsense.
On the other hand, it may be the man who introduces himself as the beginner when asking a woman to dance with him.

On taking to the floor, it is most important to try and avoid causing any problems for the other dancers. In the ballroom dances, normally the man starts a dance facing the wall. It may seem quite natural for him to walk onto the dance floor backwards while focusing his attention on his partner. This can create an annoying and an unnecessary hazard for the other dancers already on the floor. A better method is to approach the floor and gauge the flow of dance traffic before you take up your start position, showing due care and consideration for other dancers.
Show consideration for other dancers on the floor especially when it is crowded. Try to avoid dance moves which need a lot of room where there is no room to do them. If you seem to keep bumping into other people on the dance floor, then it's time to cool it.
Anyway, it is so much nicer to be able to dance close to your partner when the floor is crowded, and it is the perfect opportunity to engage in conversation.

When the dance finishes, politely thank your partner and give him or her, the option of dancing the next dance with you. You should not automatically assume that they will. If you choose to leave the floor, the man should escort his partner to at least the edge of the floor, if not all the way back to her seat. If leaving the floor, especially during a dance, the same politeness and consideration should always be shown.
If you are leaving the floor before the music has ended in a travelling dance, you should try and dance to the edge of the floor and then leave the floor at that point.

Drinks should not be taken onto the dance floor under any circumstances. They are likely to be spilled which not only spoils the floor, but also broken glass on a dance floor is extremely dangerous. If you have to pass the dance floor on the way back from the bar, wait until all the dancers are finished or find a better place. The same goes for smoking on the floor. It is dangerous and disgusting and the height of ignorance.
Always remember that politeness and a little consideration can go a long way and is always welcomed by others.