Dance Floor Etiquette and Manners
Manners and Social Etiquette
We want all of our supporters and swing dancers to have an awesome time out on the dance floor!
One of the best things about Swing Dancing is that there is no right or wrong way to do it. It is a very free and open dance form. But, it is also a social dance. That means that you have to interact socially with people. Due to this fact, we have to have some basic rules and manners. This is the same as living in normal society.
Recently, we have been asked by many people to write about basic manners and etiquette on the social dance floor. Here are some basic rules and manners for social dancing at iSwingTokyo events or other social dance events around the world. These manners are in place for the safety, health and consideration of those around you. Please read them and use these manners.
The Golden Rule: Smile and have FUN!
The 10 most basic manners
1. Be clean. Bring a towel and clean clothes (change of shirt is usually a good idea). No one likes a sweaty shirt or sweaty arms. Take a shower the day of the event. Use deodorants. Brush your teeth before the event. Sometimes we dance close so please do not use heavy perfumes or colognes as they may make people ill.
2. If you are not dancing, please don’t stand on the dance floor. Please don’t block the entrance door. Also, don’t carry drinks onto the dance floor or place them on any of the tables with Fliers or Audio Equipment. Put drinks on the floor. No Drinks on the pianos, please.
3. Be polite. Ask someone to dance nicely, with words. Please do not stare at people, hoping that they will dance with you. Ask politely. Thank them after the dance. If you must refuse someone, please give a reason (I am taking a break this song). If you refuse someone a dance, please don’t dance that song with someone else unless you have previously promised that song to someone. BTW, it is fine for girls to ask guys to dance. :)
4. If you bump into someone, step on someone, or kick someone, apologize. Recognize the infraction with a “sorry” or a gesture indicating that it was an accident. Then keep dancing.
5. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, teach on the social dance floor. No unsolicited (that means that someone didn’t ask you to teach them) teaching on the social dance floor, EVER. That is about the rudest thing that you can do to a partner. Don’t do it. If someone asks you to teach them a move or a technique, please get off the dance floor. Move to a corner and show them there.
6. When you dance as a pair, you are responsible for each other. Take care of your partner. Dance at the level of your partner. That is, at the level of the lowest level partner. Do not overwork your partner or force them into moves. Leaders: look before you lead. This will solve a lot of problems with people crashing into each other. Followers: stop yourself and put on the brakes if a lead is dangerous. You have final say.
7. Absolutely no Aerials or Lifts on the social dance floor. The same goes for choreography that takes up a lot of floor space. Exceptions are when you, for sure, have enough room around you or when you are “center” in a Jam Circle.
8. Everyone has a right to dance “pain-free.” Sometimes, leaders and followers have no idea of how they are twisting or hurting their partner. If someone is doing something uncomfortable or something that causes you pain, tell them immediately, in a nice way. They should stop immediately, too.
9. If you are a beginner, you do not need to apologize all the time for your lack of skill. Just simply say, “I am a beginner.” That is all. The other person can then decide how to dance with you. It is not considered polite to say, “I don’t know this dance, teach me!” This puts the person you asked under obligation to help you.
10. Exercise the right to say “no” and walk away. If someone insists on touching you in an inappropriate manner or if someone insists on teaching you against your will, tell them to stop. If they persist, walk away and notify the event staff. There is no excuse for fondling or unsolicited teaching. This is for followers and leaders.
Please remember that we want everyone to be able to dance together in a fun, safe environment. Following these guidelines will certainly help.
More things to think about:
Leaders:
1. If you find that you are constantly having to “teach” followers new moves, your own lead is probably in question. That means, bluntly, that it is probably no good. There is never any need to teach on the social dance floor. Ever. Period. What you think you need to “teach” the follower can actually be “led” by a good leader. Look at your own lead first. Think, “can I actually lead this?” Then, take some lessons to learn how.
2. Be aware of the dance space around you. You are responsible for yourself, your follower, and others dancing around you. Be careful and look before you send your follower. Also, look before you do kickbacks or throw your arms behind you.
Followers:
1. Try to keep your connected hand quiet. To follow you have to listen, to listen you have to be quiet. Quiet here means your hands and arms. Some followers twist, squeeze, or hurt their leaders without their being aware that they are doing it. Every now and again think about your hands and arms.
2. Try to keep a deep connection with your hands. No fingertips and certainly do not use fingernails to hold onto your partner. You will end up on the floor and your partner will need band-aids! Ouch!
