Ballroom Dance Etiquette

Main Point: Ballroom dancing should be a fun experience for everyone.

Dance Classes

• Dance classes are mostly for the benefit of the students who are there to learn.
• Turn off your cell phone before the class starts.
• Don't talk while the instructor is talking.
• If you forgot to turn off your cell phone and it rings, either turn it off or step out immediately to answer it.
• Change partners when the teacher asks, especially when the numbers of leaders and followers is out of balance.
• Don't monopolize certain dancers.  Dance with as many partners as possible.
• If you already know a dance step, "re-learn" it for the benefit of those who don't know it yet.

Social Dances are for having fun

Asking for a dance

• Dance with numerous partners.
• Gentlemen should ask all the ladies sitting at their table for a dance.
• Dance your first and last dance with your date or escort.
• Acceptable excuses for not dancing with someone who asks you:
• "I don't know this dance."
• "I'd like to rest during this song."
• "I promised someone else this dance."
• If you decline a dance, it's nice to offer a later dance.
• If you decline a request to dance with someone because you're resting (or any other reason) don't dance with anyone else until that song is over. It's very hurtful to see someone dance with someone else immediately after they've made an excuse not to dance with you.
• Sit away from the dance floor if you don't want to dance for a while -- if at all.
• It's very rude to step out of line because you don't want to dance with someone.  If you have to, please don't wait until you've reached the front of the line before turning to the person behind you and saying "You can go ahead of me."

To and From the Dance Floor

• Introduce yourself to your dance partner.
• Gentlemen should escort ladies to the dance floor and then back to their seats.  (This has lead to some odd looks since women no longer expect this.)
• Hold your arms in a proper dance frame:  no "spaghetti arms" or hanging on your partner like a bag of wet cement.
• Don't grab your partner's hand with your thumb.
• Embracing: It's the lady's prerogative how close she wants to be held but if the gentleman can readjust if he feels she's too close -- but not if he feels she's not close enough.

Traffic

• For progressive dances the line of dance should be counter-clockwise.
• Dance partners progressing quickly should travel around the outter edge of the dance floor while slower dancers and partners who stay in place should stick to the inner most area of the dance floor.  (This can be counter intuitive to novice dancers.)
• Always acknowledge and apologize for bumping into another couple on the dance floor -- even if it's not your fault.
• During a song, walk around the dance floor when you're not dancing rather than taking a short cut across the dance floor.  For people dancing on the dance floor it's hard enough to avoid the other dancers let alone non-dancers.

One on One on the Dance Floor

• In a social dance setting it's rude to offer unsolicited "dance instruction."
• Gentlemen focus on your dance partner: "The primary job of a male dancer is to make his partner look good."
• Experienced dancers should dance at the level of their less experienced partners.
• No fondling or coping a feel.  Question:  Would you touch your mother/father that way if she/he was your dance partner? If not, you shouldn't touch your dance partner that way.
• Gentleman put your keys and coins in your left pants pocket.  They're less likely to impact your partner there.
• Applaud live bands.

Understand there are various styles and schools of dances.  Most ballroom dances have evolved from folk dances and have not been created whole cloth in someone's dance studio.  Please don't insult someone by telling them that they aren't dancing an "authentic" style: the "real tango" or "true swing."  

Above all: have fun.