Most of us have been to a Country bar or Latin dance club and noticed that not everyone is having a good time. Some are feeling lonely, sitting out all, or most of the dancing, while others are having a blast, constantly in demand. These people have an air of joy and confidence around them. When dancing with this person, either as a leader or a follower, both appear to be having a great time. Why and how do they do it? What are the personal qualities, habits or skills that lead to success on any social dance floor? Believe it or not, beyond building confidence by taking dance lessons, to truly become a great social dancer there is another aspect which is important: dance etiquette.

If you live here in Arizona, visit us at Dance FX Studios in Mesa to gain that self-assurance needed to conquer any social dance floor. We will not only teach you how to be a talented social dancer, but we also do our best to impart dance etiquette into your education. Etiquette is important to use throughout our daily lives, however it is especially necessary in social dancing. Building a good reputation in any dance scene, be it Country Two Step dancing or Swing dancing, by being a considerate and enjoyable partner, as well as someone who knows how to make their partner look and feel good too, is a social dancer’s best asset.

Here are some etiquette ideas to follow whenever you are out dancing. Using these few simple tools will increase your popularity on the dance floor as you and everyone you dance with will have a great time, ensuring your reputation for the future whenever anyone finds you on that floor.

The first rule of etiquette is: practice good hygiene. Brush your teeth and use a mouth wash, shower and apply deodorant and dress appropriately for the style of dancing atmosphere you will be attending. If you apply cologne or perfume, apply it lightly. No one wants to be overwhelmed with smell even if it is the very best smell that person could imagine.

Whether you are asking women to dance or being asked, dance with everyone, make it fun and never stick to one partner, even if they match your dance ability. Accept requests to dance as much as possible. Keep in mind that if you decline a dance, you yourself cannot dance until the end of that song as others will notice that you are rejecting offers, meaning there will be fewer requests to dance.

Always be considerate of everyone dancing on the dance floor. In the Arizona Country bars here, we find crowded dance floors, often with untrained Country Swing, Country Two-Step, or other styles of Country dancers who try out flips, aerials or choreographed steps that are dangerous to nearby couples. Dance FX Studios teaches students exactly how to navigate around this type of chaos, avoiding injury, without being rude or cutting dancers off on the dance floor.

Dancing no-no’s include: do not force your follower’s arm or hand to make her turn, no back-leading when you are following and no pushing or pulling dance partners into position. Forceful leads or follows are never appreciated and you make your dance partner look awkward or off balance. Dancing together is a two-way partnership, one person agrees to lead and one agrees to follow. Show your respect by sticking to your part of the dancing connection.

Being a great leader requires skill and patience. If you have not yet learned a particular dance like: the Foxtrot, Swing, Bachata or Argentine Tango then keep taking private dance lessons and practice until you are ready. Always go and explore new social ballroom dances when you are at the point where you can  understand how they work. Even when a leader is dancing with a great follower, if the lead has no idea what he is doing, the follower cannot follow.

Never blame a dance partner for mistakes that happen while dancing together. Whether you are the lead or the follower – no teaching on the dance floor! Corrections may make a partner feel embarrassed or humiliated. Do encourage your partners, as this builds confidence and makes them happy to dance with you.

Find ways to be entertaining, keeping in mind that you and everyone around you are out dancing hoping to meet people, have a great time or find romance. Dancing do’s include: being playful, smiling, showing appreciation and keeping your focus off yourself and on your dancing partner. Above all, have a sense of humor. If something goes wrong, keep things light and fun.

The best way to enjoy success as a social dancer is to help everyone you dance with to feel happy and enjoy the experience of dancing together. The funny thing is, when your partner is happy, you will be happy too! Succeed at this task and you will never have a shortage of enthusiastic partners to dance with. You are there to have a good time and so is the other person. No matter what, make it fun!

If you want to learn how to be a great social dancer and you live in Arizona, start now with us at Dance FX Studios! We are located on the Tempe – Mesa border and only a few extra minutes from our neighboring towns Chandler and Scottsdale. We hope to see you here on our dance floor learning styles of ballroom dancing like Jitterbug, Salsa, Country 2 Step and Country Waltz here at Dance FX Studios in the Phoenix East Valley very soon!