The Etiquette of Dance
1. Smile. Even if you aren't having all that much fun, smile anyway. Laugh. Be cute. No one wants to dance with someone who isn't going to be fun.
2. Learn to stay on beat. If you're not dancing to the music, YOU'RE NOT ACTUALLY DANCING! If you do get off beat, get back on as fast as possible. This is especially important for guys as "The lady is always right!"
3. Pay attention to your partner. Not the couple dancing to your left, not the people watching you, not yourself. It's insulting when the person you are dancing with is noticing everyone but you.
4. Thank your partner for the dance.
5. Guys, sweating is inevitable, but consider doing the ladies a favor and either bring another shirt to change in to or wear an undershirt. It isn't necessary, but the girls you dance with will be thankful that they don't have to touch your dripping shirt all night, plus you'll score major points for being so considerate :)
6. Guys, when leading, do your best to not "yank" your partner around. It can be painful and usually looks pretty bad too. Keep your dancing in relatively close, that way when you are spread farther apart, it will look good because it is different.
Girls, if a lead IS yanking you around... tell him to stop. It may seem mean, but it would be much worse to let him go on dancing like a fool. If he is rude and implies that he is "too good" for your advice just remember... he wasn't good enough to know this very very basic rule.
7. Guys: Do your best to make your partner laugh. Don't be nervous, confidence is hot.
Girls: Even if it isn't THAT funny, give him a smile (refer to rule 1).
8. Take criticism well. Most people aren't out to make you look like an idiot, what they have to say may be helpful. Swallow your pride, listen to what people say you can improve upon, and apply it where necessary.
9. GIVE criticism well. Don't be a jerk. If you see something that someone can improve on, tell them in private. Don't do it in front of other people. If you must, pull them aside and make a suggestion. Don't act like you know everything and don't make fun of anyone for making a mistake.
10. Aerials are NOT socially acceptable, they are meant for competitions or rare occasions and they should NEVER be performed on a crowded dance floor. They should ONLY be performed when a couple has practiced them numerous times with proper safety in mind. If you see someone doing an Aerial that looks easy, ask them how they did it, don't assume you know it all. They may know an important detail that you missed! People do die attempting these sometimes complicated always dangerous additions to swing. And remember, you MIGHT look cool if you pull it off, but you WILL look like a fool if you drop your partner on her head.
11. Ask before doing ANY kind of trick. Not every girl enjoys being flipped, swung over your back, or spinning on the floor... nor does every girl trust you to do it! Ask... or don't be offended if she shoots you down and stops the entire dance. If a girl does stop the dance because of YOUR lack of etiquette never, ever, under any circumstance respond with "what's the matter, don't you know this move?" Not knowing and not wanting are very different things; many people just DON'T LIKE them!
12. Realize that you don't know everything. Everyone has different styles and ways of doing things. There's always something to improve on. There's always something more to learn and someone is always, always better than you :)
2. Learn to stay on beat. If you're not dancing to the music, YOU'RE NOT ACTUALLY DANCING! If you do get off beat, get back on as fast as possible. This is especially important for guys as "The lady is always right!"
3. Pay attention to your partner. Not the couple dancing to your left, not the people watching you, not yourself. It's insulting when the person you are dancing with is noticing everyone but you.
4. Thank your partner for the dance.
5. Guys, sweating is inevitable, but consider doing the ladies a favor and either bring another shirt to change in to or wear an undershirt. It isn't necessary, but the girls you dance with will be thankful that they don't have to touch your dripping shirt all night, plus you'll score major points for being so considerate :)
6. Guys, when leading, do your best to not "yank" your partner around. It can be painful and usually looks pretty bad too. Keep your dancing in relatively close, that way when you are spread farther apart, it will look good because it is different.
Girls, if a lead IS yanking you around... tell him to stop. It may seem mean, but it would be much worse to let him go on dancing like a fool. If he is rude and implies that he is "too good" for your advice just remember... he wasn't good enough to know this very very basic rule.
7. Guys: Do your best to make your partner laugh. Don't be nervous, confidence is hot.
Girls: Even if it isn't THAT funny, give him a smile (refer to rule 1).
8. Take criticism well. Most people aren't out to make you look like an idiot, what they have to say may be helpful. Swallow your pride, listen to what people say you can improve upon, and apply it where necessary.
9. GIVE criticism well. Don't be a jerk. If you see something that someone can improve on, tell them in private. Don't do it in front of other people. If you must, pull them aside and make a suggestion. Don't act like you know everything and don't make fun of anyone for making a mistake.
10. Aerials are NOT socially acceptable, they are meant for competitions or rare occasions and they should NEVER be performed on a crowded dance floor. They should ONLY be performed when a couple has practiced them numerous times with proper safety in mind. If you see someone doing an Aerial that looks easy, ask them how they did it, don't assume you know it all. They may know an important detail that you missed! People do die attempting these sometimes complicated always dangerous additions to swing. And remember, you MIGHT look cool if you pull it off, but you WILL look like a fool if you drop your partner on her head.
11. Ask before doing ANY kind of trick. Not every girl enjoys being flipped, swung over your back, or spinning on the floor... nor does every girl trust you to do it! Ask... or don't be offended if she shoots you down and stops the entire dance. If a girl does stop the dance because of YOUR lack of etiquette never, ever, under any circumstance respond with "what's the matter, don't you know this move?" Not knowing and not wanting are very different things; many people just DON'T LIKE them!
12. Realize that you don't know everything. Everyone has different styles and ways of doing things. There's always something to improve on. There's always something more to learn and someone is always, always better than you :)
Latest Photos:
Latest Video:
