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Because of the increase popularity of ballroom and latin dancing, many singles, couples, and groups have enrolled for dance lessons at different studios throughout the country. Couples Dance Studio is no exception. Eventually, as your dancing develops, you will reach a level of confidence to venture out and test your skills at a public ballroom. Hopefully your first experience will be a pleasurable one. To help you enjoy your first night out, I would like to touch upon the subject of "dance etiquette." Dance teachers have a tendency to focus so much of their attention developing your dancing skills that they often fall short covering the rules of the dance floor. This applies not only to your dancing, but, also to your social interaction with fellow dancers.
The Public Ballroom
Public ballrooms vary in size and the amount of people that they can accommadate. Some rooms can seat over 400 people and some only 100. The average price for admission is $12.00 per person for 4 hours of dancing along with a free dance lesson in the beginning of the evening. Alcohol is generally not served or offered at any ballroom, however, some ballrooms will allow you to bring your own bottle. Water and non-alcoholic beverages are available and some ballrooms may offer a light buffet.
A public ballroom is a world within itself and has its' own set of rules. From my experience I can tell you that 90% of the people that dance in any public ballroom do so regularly and consistantly to a point that everyone seems to know everyone. You will meet people of all ages that have been dancing for years and, of course, a fair number of beginners. The ballroom will contain a mixture of single people, as well as, couples dancing at all levels.
You must understand that you are in an environment that is composed of people that share a common interest - dancing. The degree of interest and devotion varies between individuals. There are people that take dancing very seriously and those that are there just for the shear fun of it. Whatever the motive or degree of devotion, each person is entitled to enjoy the dance floor and should always respect his or her fellow dancer. This is the first rule of etiquette.
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If you are a beginner, I would like to make the following suggestions BEFORE you venture out to a public ballroom:
1. Make no mistake - you must know how to dance. There is no faking it, getting by, or just standing there like two statues shifting your weight back and forth like you did in high school or at a wedding. When a waltz is played, everyone dances a waltz. When a rhumba is played, everyone dances a rhumba and so on - no exceptions. Remember, 90% of the people that are there on a Friday or Saturday night are there every week. The level of dance may vary, but for the most part, you are in a world of experienced dancers.
2. If you are not familiar with ballroom or latin dancing - go to a studio and take dance lessons first and then venture out to a public ballroom. Usually, taking only about 12 hours of private one hour lessons with a good instructor can get you started dancing the night away at your local ballroom.
3. I recommend at first working on these five dances: Foxtrot, Waltz, Rhumba, ChaCha, and Swing. Why? Simply because these are the most popular and most often played dances you will hear at any public ballroom. I would say 50% to 60% of the time one of these dances is being played during the evening. So, if you think about it, learning these five dances initially will enable you to be out on the dance floor at least 50% of the time. It's a good way to get started.
Basically, their are two forms of dancing that take place at any ballroom - either stationary or dances that require movement. Stationary dances are pretty much self-explanatory. You simply pick a spot on the dance floor and dance. Dances that are stationary are: Rhumba, ChaCha, Hustle, Bolero, Salsa, Merengue - to name a few. Dances that require movement are: Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, Quick Step, Samba, Viennese Waltz, and Polka. The direction of movement is always counter-clockwise around the dance floor.
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For a beginner, moving around the dance floor takes time and patience to develop. Floor craft, the ability to dance without bumping into someone, takes practice. Very often when couples or single people venture out the first time to a public ballroom, especially if the floor is crowded, the counter-clockwise movement can be so overwhelming and intimidating that beginners usually sit rather than dance. This is a common reaction. Don't let it discourage you. Remember, everyone was a beginner at one time. They too also had to learn just like you will.
I offer you the following advice:
1. Asked your dance instructor to work on your floor craft and make sure your dance teacher knows that you are interested in dancing at a public ballroom. Your dance teacher is your strongest asset. If he or she knows where you want to take your dancing, the teacher can show you steps that provide movement and develop your ability to travel around the dance floor.
2. Asked your dance instructor to suggest a ballroom that is not so crowded and more suited for beginners.
3. Avoid ballrooms on a Friday night until you can comfortably dance around the floor. Most ballrooms are crowded on Friday evenings.
4. Don't give up - you will learn! It's not rocket science!
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Social Interaction
Like I said earlier, a public ballroom has its' own set of rules. The desire to dance has created an environment in which the rules of etiquette have changed from the Victorian principles of our culture to a more liberal equally balanced set of rules. First of all, it is perfectly acceptable for a women to ask a man for a dance. Ladies no longer have to sit there waiting for the men to do all the asking. They get to choose and ask for a dance just as much as the men do.
Second, it is considered inappropriate and rude to turn down a dance by either a man or a women. In fact, there are only three reasons that are considered acceptable when turning down a dance at a public ballroom.
1. You are tired and need to rest.
No one can dance every dance without taking a break. Just make sure you rest for the entire dance. If you turned some one down for this reason, and decide to complete the same dance with a 2nd individual, I guarentee you the first person will notice and be totally offended.
2. You promissed the dance to someone else.
Be carefull with this one too. Make sure you are telling the truth and don't make promisses you don't keep. It will be noticed.
3. You do not know how to dance the particular requested dance.
An obviously acceptable reason, however, you may offer to dance a dance that you know at a later time.
If you do turn down a dance request, I suggest verbalizing the reason to the person requesting the dance. No one likes to receive a cold rejection. Don't make promisses you don't keep. It will come back to haunt you.
Ther's an old saying "You reap what you sow. What you give you get back in spades." Remember, 90% of the people there will be there every week and, over time, will get to know, not only your dancing ability, but also the type of person you are. Think about it!
One final suggestion: If you were to do an internet search on the subject of "Dance Etiquette," it would yield hundreds of results. I strongly recommend reading four or five of them. There are plenty of good articles on this subject. It was not my intention to cover the full scope of the topic, I merely touched the service.
Good luck! See you on the dance floor!
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