Dance floor is perhaps the most sacred space for dance lovers. However, in crowded cities like ours that has many youngsters going out for parties and outings, the dance floor can be quite a nightmare. In the spur of the moment while having fun with friends we should not forget that our fun should not let cause any problems to people around us.
With people often doing out of control air steps with reckless abandonment and Charleston kicks that resemble kung fu moves, it’s surprising that there isn’t an ambulance standing by outside dance clubs today. And if one were to throw in the bruised feelings that result from rudeness and the frustration one feels when jostled on a busy dance floor, we have the potential for a riot. All these things can be easily avoided if everyone simply abides by the “unwritten” rules of dance floor etiquette which have served true dance lovers for almost over 100 years:
Dance in your space, not someone else’s. As the floor gets more crowded, make your steps smaller and kicks shorter. This applies to every dancer, no matter how experienced.
If you bump into someone else on the dance floor, assume it is your fault and apologise immediately.
If the dance floor is too crowded, wait until the next song.
Save all your elaborate air steps for jams, performances, shows and competitions. Always remember that social dance floors coupled with complicated air steps results in a crippled dancer.
Wear appropriate clothes and shoes. Extremely high heel shoes or heavy boots are injuries waiting to happen. A towel is recommended for those who perspire excessively.
On the social dance floor, don’t teach, offer suggestions or criticise your partner’s dancing skills unless they ask you to or give you permission to do so. Remember that social dancing is meant to be fun, not stressful.
Dance in a manner and at a distance that your partner is comfortable with. Not every woman enjoys “dirty dancing”, creative hand placement, or testing the static clinging ability of clothing.
Do not take your drinks, cigarette, cigars on the dance floor, your table is the correct place for it.
Always remember to smell great when you go out dancing.
If you are one of those people who find it difficult to follow or even consider “rules” then good etiquettes will certainly help you enjoy a night with friends and other dance lovers:
Save your first and last dance for the person you came with. It’s only common courtesy.
Dance with other people apart from the person you came with. This is the only way to be a good social dancer.
Don’t say “no” to anyone who asks you to dance unless you’re tired. If that is the case, make sure you sit through the whole song before dancing again.
If you promise someone a dance, especially the “next song” then don’t forget to fulfill your promise. Don’t make them come find you, be polite and find them.
Dance with beginners. It’s the only way they’ll ever learn to dance socially.
Don’t get water without leaving a tip. The term for such rude dancer lover is “water buffaloes” and they are the chief cause of rising cover prices and the demise of dancing in clubs worldwide.
Now a days going out in huge groups has become extremely common. This gathering in dancing terms is called a “jam”. Back in the big band days, dancers often had a hard time finding enough space to safely do their best moves. Shine steps, difficult air steps, and travelling steps were simply too dangerous or impossible to do on the busy dance floors.
Thus, dance lovers would often form what was called a “jam session,” “jam circle” or simply a “jam.” The dancers would clear out a wide area on the dance floor by standing in a circle and then take turns inside the circle to show off their best moves while the other dancers cheered them on. This would go on until every dancer finished their turn or a dancer would threaten physical violence. Today, the classic tradition of jams still lives on in the finer dancer lover’s world. Here is the rules and etiquette of a jam:
If a few non-dance lovers are present, jams should only last till two or three songs.
A spontaneous jam session can be started at any time by any group of dancers clearing a circle for one couple to dance in.
The lead dancers at a club in conjunction with the DJ / Band Leader normally run organised jams. If an organised jam starts, all dancers in the club should stop what they are doing and join the circle to cheer on the couple inside.
Once you enter the jam, stay until you decide to leave or another couple enters the circle. Remember do not stay past your time.
To enter the Jam, grab your partner and wait inside the circle. As long as the couple inside the circle is dancing, wait. When they leave or run out of steam, enter the jam.
World will have such a wonderful dance floor if we all practise dance floor etiquette! Many dancers and many styles of dancing can be accommodated on the floor at the same time. This means that we have to all follow traditional dance floor etiquette properly. Remember to treat people the way you would like to be treated. Let’s be courteous and we will enjoy dancing.