Dance Etiquette

When you ask someone to dance, be sure to make eye contact with your prospective partner, offer your hand, and ask clearly, “Would you like to dance?” If your partner says yes, you should smile, take their hand, and escort him or her onto the dance floor and into dance position. This will make your partner feel supported and at ease.

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.

During the dance, 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 escort them off the floor.

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.

It is appropriate to say no if you have danced with this person before and he or she has been physically or verbally abusive, or has made you uncomfortable. If you feel that a dancer is physically dangerous to the other dancers or otherwise has ill intentions, please report the situation immediately to Taylor.

In a social dance situation, it is appropriate to dance with a variety of people. Unless you came with a designated dance partner, it is generally poor dance etiquette to partner up and dance with the same person all evening long. Naturally, some people will prefer certain dance partners to others, but this 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 tell that person, “thank you, but I’d like to meet and dance with some other people for awhile. I’ll be happy to dance with you again late in the evening.”

Social dancing is a quasi-intimate activity that requires a certain degree of physical closeness. Good hygiene shows respect and consideration for the other dancers. Dancers should bathe, use deodorant, use breath mints, and wear clean clothes that will not be too hot. Some dancers sweat a great deal while dancing. In this case, it is considerate to bring a towel and/or change of clothes. If you find yourself getting too sweaty on the dance floor, you should stop, dry off, and cool down for a few minutes. Your partners will thank you for it. Dancers should also use a light touch applying perfume or cologne. Some people may be sensitive to fragrances.

Unless someone asks you directly to make a correction of their dancing, you should never volunteer criticisms of your dance partner’s technique. Assume your dance partner is doing the best he or she can. If your partner is dancing off time, you should view the situation as a challenge to dance to the same internal rhythms as your partner. Your partner is not dancing off time intentionally. Again, your dance partner is doing the best he or she can. Do your best to respect each others rhythms. If your partner is physically hurting you, it is most likely inadvertent. You should stop dancing for a second, and say “I’m sorry, but you’re holding my hand too tightly. Could we try again?” If you receive an inconsiderate response or your partner seems unwilling to modify his or her 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.

Assume your dance partner is doing the best he or she can.

In order for a social dance to be enjoyable for all participants, it is crucial to be considerate and 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. Please be courteous when a collision occasionally happens, regardless of whose “fault” it was. If someone has been hurt, make sure they are okay before you resume dancing. If needed, escort the person off the dance floor to a chair and see if that person needs ice, a drink of water or medical attention.

Careful observation of the traffic lanes in a ballroom can prevent mishaps. In traveling dances, like Waltz, Tango, etc., dancers move in a counterclockwise circle around the floor known as “line of dance”. The very outside “fast” lane it is used by experienced dancers who cover a great deal of ground. The inside “slow” lane is for less experienced dancers who move 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.

It is considered inappropriate to cut across the dance floor, especially when carrying food or drink. Remember to move off the dance floor when engaged in conversation.

The same dance etiquette for social dances also apply in a group class environment.

It has been proven that you will learn to dance faster by dancing with a variety of partners. It is most likely that a group class instructor will have you rotate. Be sure to say hello and introduce yourself to your new partners. If you only want to dance with a designated dance partner, you may do so by stepping out of the circle each time the instructor asks the group 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 the difference in technique and skill level. 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.

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 the difference in technique and skill level.

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.

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!