Social Dancing Etiquette
By Heidi

GENTLEMEN

Hygiene

Cleanliness

Deodorant

The breath test

Light cologne at most

Costume

Nice dress shirt plus slacks/khakis

Have fun with your outfit!

LADIES

Hygiene

Cleanliness

Deodorant

The breath test

Light perfume at most

Costume

Dress nice, go all out if you want – skirts, dresses, nice pants

Be prepared to move your body a lot, so dress accordingly

Asking for & Responding to an Offer to Dance

Asking (for leaders):

—Make eye contact with someone who looks available to dance.

—Ask politely if they’d like to dance.

—Extend your hand and casually lead the person onto the dance floor.

—At the end of the song, lead your partner off of the dance floor.

—Say THANK YOU! J

Asking (for followers):

—Make eye contact with someone who looks available to dance.

—Ask politely if they’d like to dance.

—Extend your hand and walk with the person onto the dance floor (allow the leader to lead if he/she so chooses).

—At the end of the song, walk with your partner off of the dance floor.

—Say THANK YOU! J

Responding (for leaders):

—Say YES if you would like to dance and walk with your politely (you decide whether to lead him/her onto the floor).

—Say NO if you are not interested. You don’t need to say why, but do say thank you for asking. (e.g. “I’m sitting this song out, actually, but thanks for asking.”).

—At the end, walk with your partner off of the dance floor.

—Say THANK YOU! J

Responding (for followers):

—Say YES if you would like to dance and follow politely.

—Say NO if you are not interested. You don’t need to say why, but do say thank you for asking. (e.g. “I’m sitting this song out, actually, but thanks for asking.”)

—At the end, follow your partner off of the dance floor.

—Say THANK YOU! J

The NEVER NEVER NEVER List!!!

§ Never use the dance floor as a classroom

Don’t ever stop in the middle of a club and try to teach a step to your partner, even if there’s room. It’s terribly embarrassing and rude. If you dance regularly with the person, tell them you’d like to teach them the step later, NOT at the club.

§ Never pull, grab or beckon with a head nod to someone to come dance with you

Nobody likes being dragged onto the dance floor, and at the same time, nobody likes being motioned to the dance floor with a quick jerking-of-the-head motion.

§ Never take “no” as “yes”

If the person says “no,” that doesn’t mean you should keep bugging them; just find another fish in the sea. If the person says they’d like to dance later, come back after a couple songs and ask again politely.

§ Never forget to say “thank you”

Remember Miss Manners!!! Everybody likes a warm thank you at the end of a dance.

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