And of all people, I'm the most qualified to be going around telling people what to do (because it's literally my job and what I get paid to do on a daily basis), but I don't do it when I'm out social dancing. West coast swing dancers should leave room at the ends of the dance floor for other dancers to get by. It's extra important to do this if you full-on collide with someone else or if hear someone say "OWW!". Circulating In a social dance situation it is appropriate to dance with a variety of people. Don't teach, critique or correct your partner if he or she makes a mistake in a social dance situation. However, we know that dancing five hours a day or longer is linked to an increased risk of injury. You're in love...lust...he's so hot....she's so sexy....look at those abs....look at those lips! And we request you don’t do swing dances on the main floor during line dances. Floor Craft Etiquette ~ Reminders If you are new to the dance floor, having just taken a few lessons and want to try your skills on the Grand Ballroom floor, be aware that some dance styles, like the Waltz, Foxtrot and Viennese Waltz, have couples traveling in a fast, fluid counter-clockwise direction around the outer perimeter of the floor. You will need to have some good social graces to get along when you play with others, as well as some understanding of others who don't play well. So in conclusion, dipping your partner doesn't make you look cool if you can't do it safely. Maybe he was dancing a lot that night and got tired and had to go. If there’s a large space between you and the couple in front, either move to the inside, or speed up to close the gap. Yes, I understand that some women are "heavy" or otherwise difficult follows and hard to move around either because they're too tight or too loose with their frame and don't respond to your leads. Dip responsibly when out dancing socially. So don't be a jerk about it and continue dragging through it when she's clearly not able to keep up. Observe proper etiquette with regard to personal space. You should never touch a woman's breasts, butt, crotch or any other private place. Many nightclubs in the Bay Area especially don't treat their same-sex couples any differently, and no one bats an eye at two women or two men dancing together. If you found her in the middle of the dance floor, you can escort her to the side of the room or leave her on the dance floor if you see that she's on the lookout for another partner nearby. Laughter and fun—dancing can provide a lot of entertainment. Question: Is it acceptable to invite someone to dance who is the same gender as you during a social dance? We all make mistakes. Don't make your partner feel like you're holding him/her hostage because you're worried that they'll run off on you, not to mention the fact that it's uncomfortable and impractical for dancing. The Ultimate Guide to Gym Etiquette Written by Jordan Shakeshaft on December 11, 2014 From yoga and Pilates to circuits and supersets, there’s no right or wrong way to get in shape. If the place is crowded, try to do moves that are more compact or in place so you don't travel quite as much and aren't as likely to bump into other people. If you are dancing with a woman who is a beginner or not as advanced as you, then adjust your dancing accordingly. Slower dancers should move towards the inside of the dance floor, allowing faster dancers to pass them on the outside. Dancing provides physical/mental refreshment and relaxation. It's very rude and dangerous to go around doing huge moves, traveling excessively, and bumping into other people as a result of that. Usually people are responsive to these kinds of requests and will adjust their dancing accordingly. Yay, non-verbal communication! So take it down a notch (or twelve) and remember that you're there to have fun, not prove to your partner that you are the best dancer who ever lived, and that she should be grateful to have had an opportunity to experience your amazing talents! It's important to make regular eye contact with your partner. In a short bond paper, think of a recreational game an make guidelines and/or rules and the materials needed. Identify and enumerate the different proper etiquette and safety in the use of facilities and equipment 2. 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. They should not cut through the line of West Coast Swing dancers. As a man, it's extra important to look at your partner for safety reasons, so you can always tell what's going on with her and be a more effective leader. A good tip is just to look at your partner's face, and then meet their eyes every once in a while. The facilities and the equipment being pertained by the question are those that can be located inside the school. 1. Anya Brodech (author) from 130 Linden St, Oakland, California, 94607 on February 23, 2019: Some guys are just there to dance and not interested in looking for a date. Instead, take some group classes or private lessons, learn how to dance properly, then come back and show her what you know; that's much more impressive. If you find yourself apologizing all the time, maybe the problem isn’t just everybody else. If you bump into someone, smile and apologize. FORMAT : - Name of the game - Materials …. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. Because I did. Always try to hold onto your partner with both hands, keep her close, and don't dip her too low. You don't need to prove what a big strong man you are by throwing your partner around and being super rough dancing with her. Dancing is a great activity to pursue at almost any age provided you are in proper health to handle the rigors of dancing for life. In general, you just want to look happy-ish, but within reason, like a normal person. If you want to get hot and heavy, I suggest you take it off of the dance floor and go somewhere else. It helps ensure your evening/event goes more smoothly. Check out these 20 helpful tips on social dancing etiquette. Dancing is a pretty involved activity, you can't just be zoning out while you're dancing with someone and expect everything to go perfectly. Try and smile and look happy while dancing with your partner. Knowing the steps is only a small part of being a ballroom dancer. The direction of movement is always counter-clockwise. All etiquette and manners have their roots in practicality, and following guidelines provide for the comfort level of all dancers, which help in maintaining good behavior among dancers, traffic control, direction and safety on a dance floor. Smile, and apologize. Bring back all equipment in place after use. Dancers moving slower down the line of dance should stay towards the smaller inside lane. If you find yourself smiling all the time, well, good. Gauge your partner's skill level by looking at how comfortable she feels. In performing exercises and movement in general, practice good form... 2. only use the equipment if the teacher already gave instruction how the equipment is used. I mean it's like come on, really? If they are genuinely interested in learning how to dance, but might be feeling very shy and self-conscious about it, I might show them the basic and do some backleading so we could dance one song together. You don't want to blantly ignore your partner or avoid looking at them because that's kind of rude, not to mention it makes it more difficult to dance because you can miss out on a lot of visual cues/leads on what to do next. Choose a Safe Place to Practice Most cheerleading injuries happen during practice. West Coast Swing DANCE ETIQUETTE: Dancing is a very active and at times a socially intimate and healthy social setting. Answer: Yes, it is perfectly fine and totally acceptable to ask someone of the same gender or sex as you to dance. Dancing is a very active and at times an intimate social setting and you will need to have some good social graces to get along when you play with others as well as some understanding of others who don’t play well. Anya is a professional dance teacher in Oakland. You might be able to have them show you the basic step just so you can get through one song together, but don't expect any more than that. It makes you a more desirable dance partner. Identifies school and community resources in case of an injury or emergency PEH11FH-Ii-j-11 12. If you really enjoyed dancing with each other, you can hug your partner or give them a kiss on the cheek if you sense that they also had a really great time. If you want to do them, get some studio and practice them there, but don't be pulling that stuff on unsuspecting partners! If you are leaving your partner on the dance floor, make sure you thank him/her before you walk away. Pay attention to your partner and what they're doing. Don't hit on a woman by asking her to teach you how to dance. I've had lots of men complain to me about women who backlead because it makes it incredibly difficult to dance with them, since they are the ones deciding on the moves and yanking the guy around to do them. © 2017–2021 The Sundance Association for Country-Western Dancing. In addition, it interferes with the guys attempts to lead you through something that he knows, because you might end up doing something else than what he wanted when you go around guessing what's coming up next. Squeezing your partner is an issue for both men and women. Long story short, be responsible when drinking and dancing and don't go on the dance floor if you can't dance safely. 3. Don't carry drinks onto the dance floor. Maintain a professional image when … Just think of eye contact as a way of checking in with your partner while you're dancing. Ladies, you don't need to hold onto your partner for dear life, he's not going anywhere. Some of the "Rules" are very simple, just using common sense and courtesy will help to ensure that everyone has a good time in a … As TV shows “Dancing with the Stars” and “So You Think You Can Dance” have developed a broad audience, ballroom dance has gained popularity. Report spills immediately. Demonstrates proper etiquette and safety in the use of facilities and equipment 13. For women, you can get dizzy and fall down easily, especially during spins or if you're wearing heels you can twist your ankle.