Dance Etiquette

This is not intended as a complete guide on dance floor etiquette, but more of as an outline based on common sense and courtesy.

• Most importantly – don’t talk and chat whilst teaching is in progress
• Never stand on the floor to talk – during teaching or dancing – if you’re not dancing, please vacate to the edges of the dance floor.
• Never walk through a line of dancers (when a dance or teaching is in progress) to cross the floor – wait or walk around the back of the floor.
• Never carry food or drinks (glasses, bottles or cans) onto or across the dance floor.
• When dancing near beginners – be mindful, courteous and encouraging and remember, everyone was a beginner once. Please don’t flourish near beginners, move to the back of the hall. If it is a class situation wait for the teacher to allow flourishes (the addition of extra turns or different steps other than listed on the step sheet). In a dance party situation it is courtesy to wait for a “vanilla” ( if a 4 wall dance -4 walls, 2 wall dance – 2 walls) of the dance is danced before you may start to flourish.
• If you have never learnt a dance or not know it well, refrain from “having a go”!! This can cause collisions, distraction to those who know it as they are concentrating on someone who is a “loose cannon” etc. Of course if it is an easy dance and you are an intermediate dancer please dance at the end of a line, if  you can pick it up and move with the general flow of the dance, or you may have learnt it once or twice and have a good handle on it. This is courteous and part of dance floor etiquette. In other words – use your common sense!!
• Be helpful and friendly to visitors and newcomers.
• If the floor is crowded, take small steps, enjoy the company and be wary for collisions.
• Should you bump into someone, it is courteous to apologise whether it is your fault or not.
• If possible, start another line rather than join one which may block the outside circle lane.
• Don’t stop dancing on the floor (while others are dancing) to teach another dancer, move off the floor to a quieter area.
• If the dance floor is empty and you are starting off the dance, go to the front so that others can fall in line behind you.
• Where permission has been given to do so, you can start a split floor dance other than what has been called, by going to the back and ensuring there is adequate space between the two dances.
• Join a dance that is already started, at the same point and on the end of the row.
• Generally the dance floor is divided into three areas for the comfort and enjoyment of all.

1. CENTRE (HUB): for the line dancers.

2. OUTSIDE LANE: (around edge of floor) for two steppers and couple dancers

3. CORNERS: For East Coast / West Coast Swing & Jive (Rock ‘n’ Roll) dancers

• Those dancing around the outside lane have the right of way. Please don’t block their progress.
• When dancing around the floor as a circle or partner dance, the line of dance (LOD) is always anti-clockwise.
• And finally, keep your head up, keep smiling and enjoy yourselves.

Compliments of Lonestar Dance