Dance floor Etiquette
On the Floor Line of Dance:
The dancing on a floor is done along a counter clockwise direction, known as the Line Of Dance. This applies to traveling dances including Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango Quickstep, and Viennese Waltz, as well as Polka and two-step in the Country repertoire. Latin and Swing dances are more or less stationary and have no line of dance. Sometimes it is possible to dance more than one type of dance to the same song. For Example, some Foxtrots can also be Swings, and many Lindy Hop songs are just great fro Quickstep. In that case, swing dancers take the middle of the floor, and the moving dancers move along the periphery in the direction of the line of dance.
Getting on the floor:
Some caution should be exercised when getting on the floor, especially if the song has already started and couples are dancing on the floor. It is the responsibility of the incoming couples to make sure that they stay out of the way of the couples already dancing. Specifically, before getting into dance position, one should always look opposite the line of dance to avoid blocking someone’s way, or even worse causing a collision.
At the end of the dance:
After the dance is finished and before parting, thank your partner. The proper answer to “Thank you!” on the dance floor is: ”Thank you!” The point is that the thanks is not due to a favor, but to a politeness.
If you enjoyed the dance, let your partner know. Compliment your partner on her/his dancing. Be generous, even if he/she is not the greatest of dancers. Be specific about it if you can: “ I really like the double reverse spin. You led/followed that beautifully!”
Leaving the dance floor:
When a song comes to an end, leave the floor as quickly as it is gracefully possible. Tradition requires that the gentlemen give their arm to the ladies and take them back to their seat at the end of the dance. While this custom is liked to the outdated tradition requiting the gentlemen to ask ladies for dance, it is still a nice touch, although it may be impractical on the more crowed dance floors. In any case, remember that your partner may want to get the next dance. Don’t keep them talking after the dance is over, if they seem ready to break away to look for their next partner.
Leaving the entrances free:
Some dance floors, especially in country western dance establishments, have limited access space (most of the periphery is railed). Dancers and onlookers should avoid blocking the entrances. In particular, avoid stopping to chat immediately after exiting the dance floor. Another issue in Country Western dancing in regards to line dancers, who sometimes share the floor with other dancers. They should avoid blocking entrances from the inside while dancing |
