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Like many things, ballroom dance has general rules regarding appropriate
etiquette. We encourage these guidelines in order to make dancing more enjoyable
for everyone.
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Personal Hygiene
Though this may sound pretty obvious, please remember to shower, brush your teeth, wear
deoderant, and avoid raw onions and garlic for dinner when planning to attend a dance, lesson, or workshop.
Even though most UWMBDA dances are casual, wearing clean casual clothes will certainly
help you make a better impression on others. If you happen to sweat a lot, bring an extra
shirt to wear in case your first one gets gross. You decide whether bringing several extra shirts
will be necessary.
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Bring Shoes
Bring a different pair of shoes to wear for dancing. They do not need
to be ballroom dance shoes, but you should not have worn them while arriving at the
dance. This helps to prevent damaging the floor by minimizing tracked-in
dirt and sidewalk grime and helps to avoid slippery surfaces.
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No Dance Wax
Ballroom dance shoes have suede bottoms. Grit and particles damage
our shoes.
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Be Gentle
Good leading comes from moving one's own body. Good following comes from responding to
the movements of the leader. Doing either requires holding a good frame, but neither
involves forcefulness or pain. Furthermore, at no time should you feel like your
personal space is being invaded.
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Say Yes!
If someone asks you to dance, say yes! The only good reasons to sit out are if you
are physically exhausted, you need to get water or use the restroom, or you are injured. If you
do turn someone down, it's considered very rude to then accept an invitation to dance from someone else
during that song. Also, you should seek the person you turned down and ask him/her to dance later.
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Say No...
If anyone has a history of invading your personal space, dancing too forcefully, causing you
pain, monopolizing your time, or is someone who just generally bothers you for any reason,
you are not obligated to accept an invitation to dance with him/her.
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Personal Space
You may see some dancers use a very close dance postion. However, not everyone
is comfortable dancing so close to someone he/she might not know.
Let the less experienced dancer set the appropriate distance when dancing in a close
position, and please see the following Post.
An experienced dancer will always be happy to adjust to his/her partner's comfort level, so
if you're new to dance, don't feel like you have to dance a certain way. As with any activity,
you still get to decide what makes you comfortable.
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Don't correct your partner's dancing
Lessons are for learning how to dance. Social dances are for dancing! It is very
rude to correct someone else's dancing at a social dance. It's not fun to go to a social dance and
be told you're doing something wrong, so don't do that to anyone. Besides, how do you know
you're not the one doing it wrong!
The only exception is if your partner is physically hurting you - then it's your duty to
insist that he/she stops hurting you.
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Lifts, Dips, and Drops
Unless you know a partner very well and have worked on lifts, dips, drops, and other risky moves
together, it is very rude and even dangerous to expect someone to be willing to perform
such moves with you.
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Line Of Dance
Traveling dances (quickstep, fox-trot, waltz, Viennese waltz, tango, samba) are
danced around the edges of the floor and travel counter-clockwise in a circle or oval.
However, spot dances (swing, rumba, cha-cha, mambo, salsa, west coast swing)
are danced at the center of the floor.
It is possible and totally correct
for some people to be dancing a fox trot or quickstep while others are dancing
a swing, for instance, so it is very important to observe this convention to avoid collisions.
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Traveling Dances
When doing a traveling dance, the fast lanes dance on the outside
of the circle. The slow lanes dance on the inside of the circle. If you're not
moving quickly, it is best to stay out of the fast lanes.
You should never completely stop (and thus block traffic) during a traveling dance,
regardless of where you are on the dance floor.
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Clear The Dance Floor
If you are not dancing, please move off the dance floor.
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Apologize
If you do run into another couple on the dance floor, always apologize.
Furthermore, be aware that dancers of all experience levels are on the floor at
the same time. The more experienced dancers accept the responsibility for
any collisions, since they ought to have better floor craft.
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Be Courteous
Dancing should be comfortable and polite. Be aware of how your actions
affect your partner. Be aware of how your movements affect other
people, and be courteous of their space.
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