1. “Would you like to dance?” + eye contact + an extended hand is a clear and kind way to ask someone to dance
There are many ways to ask someone to dance, but making eye contact, extending an open hand, and using words to ask politely are one of the clearest and kindest ways to ask for a dance. Never take away a potential partner’s ability to consent to the dance.
2. Laugh when you make a mistake. Everyone messes up sometimes, even the pros.
Missed that hand connection? Spun once instead of twice? Almost tripped yourself? Laugh it off! It happens to everyone, and your ability to recover from little moments like this will determine your happiness in this hobby.
3. Don’t give advice on the dance floor.
People want to feel welcome at the social regardless of how good they may be at dancing. Advice says “you’re not good enough for me yet.” Leave the corrections to the dance teachers.
4. Eye contact, smiling, and dancing close are both cultural and personal
Yes, acknowledgement that someone is enjoying the dance feels good, but does it always have to be lots of eye contact, smiling, and closeness? Nope! Be gracious with your partners.
5. Meet your partner in the middle or at their level when your experience levels and style preferences don’t match
You want to be able to have fun together, and that can’t happen without some compromise. Trust me, you’ll have a better overall time dancing when you learn to dance with people of all experience levels.
6. Never force a move, and don’t do any sort of trick or dip without training.
Rushing into what you think is really fancy and cool is often a quick way to hurt your partner and/or the people around you. Get some training, PLEASE.
7. When the floor is crowded, take smaller steps, watch the space around you, and leave out the tricks & dips
This is also how people get hurt. And if you don’t dance smaller, the poor couple next to you will probably have to dance tiny to avoid you. Don’t be that person. Share the space.
8. If someone declines a dance with you, just say “okay” and ask someone else.
There’s a million reasons they might have said no, so don’t take it personally. Resilience is important.
9. Don’t lose your joy trying to impress others.
You don’t need to know a lot of moves, have fancy decorations, or be perfect to be worthy of a dance.