VBDS Social Dances – Suggested Guidelines
What are social dances? The word “social” is in the name of our monthly dances for a reason. Unlike classes and weekly practices (where the focus may be more on improving your dancing, perhaps with a dedicated partner), the goal of our monthly social dances is to create an opportunity to socialize while dancing.
One long-time problem we encounter at dance events is that there has almost always been an imbalance between the number of follows and leads in attendance. We want to find ways to ensure that everyone has a good time at our monthly dances and has the opportunity to dance. At the Board level, we continue to try to find ways to improve our social dances. However, some of the answer lies in the membership of the club as a whole, starting with awareness of the problem, followed by a collaborative solution.
With a goal to increasing awareness of the social aspect of ballroom dancing at our dances, and in the hopes of improving the dance experience for all guests, the following guidelines are suggested for VBDS social dances:
- We kindly request that all leads (even if attending as a couple), ask at least two solo follows to dance during the evening. This requires acceptance by follow partners as well that they will give up two dances through the evening (a chance to socialize a bit or grab a drink/snack). This will help to address this imbalance without putting the majority of the responsibility on only one or two “volunteer” leads for the entire evening.
- We will have two tables reserved for solo dancers (follows and leads). We hope that this will make it easier to know who may be looking to be asked to dance.
- Both leads and follows are encouraged to ask other solo dancers to dance.
- The skill level of each dancer should not matter, as the focus is on socializing and having fun.
- It is an accepted dance etiquette tenet that asking someone to dance is not an opportunity to correct or coach your partner, especially if unsolicited.
In order to facilitate a socializing-centric approach at our dances, we will continue to have mixer-style workshops at the beginning of the evening, and will also have a second mixer dance somewhere in the evening’s program (circle Merengue mixer, Waltz taxi dance mixer, etc.), which can help to break the ice and make it easier to ask someone new to dance.
It can feel intimidating to ask someone new to dance (especially as a new dancer), but with increasing awareness of what social dances are, together with implementation of more mixers in the evening’s program, over time it does get easier.
We hope all dancers will help us as a club and be part of the solution to making our monthly social dances enjoyable and successful for all guests.
Thank you.
Diane Duruisseau
President
General Ballroom Dance Etiquette:
Below are a few more general ballroom dance etiquette guidelines to be considered at all VBDS events – dances, practices, etc.
Above all …. Kindness
The nature of partner dancing is that it is social, so knowing and applying these measures of kindness will enhance the dancing experience for all.
Scents
Ballroom dancing is close contact activity, not just with your dancing partner, but with others. In public spaces and many workplaces, scented products are mostly unwelcome. Please be considerate of others.
Follows can ask leads and leads can ask follows
Asking another person to dance has absolutely no hidden agenda attached other than to dance one dance. Follows can ask leads, and leads can ask follows. Ballroom dancing is a social activity, so it is customary to dance with people who have no partner and attend our dances (including practices). Dancing with someone other than a regular partner can lead to a better understanding of the dancing, whether as a lead or a follow, and besides sharing is a very good social experience. At the end of the dance, thank your partner. Leads, remember to escort your dance partner to their chair at the end of the dance. The most practical way to do this is to offer your arm.
Line of dance
During dances that follow the line of dance (all of the standard dances, Samba and Paso Doble), less experienced dancers should stay near the middle of the floor, keeping the outside open to dancers having more flight in their steps. This may be counter-intuitive to beginner dancers who likely keep to the outside for a fast exit off the dance floor at the first sign of trouble.
Collisions on dance floor
Collisions are inevitable and are ‘no-fault’. Each couple apologizing is the polite thing to do. Dance floors will get crowded, whether it is a practice or a social dance, and when it is crowded it is the best time to make your steps a bit more compact and work on floor craft. The long routines learned in classes or being worked on for competitions will be quite difficult on a crowded floor.
Bad harmony
Practicing dance steps can be a challenge and often times couples may disagree. The bad harmony between dancers can make others feel uncomfortable. If it is a bad day where things just don’t seem to be working out, be considerate of others with the tone and volume of your voice.
Respect the dance floor
Wear dance shoes or clean shoes that are used specifically for dancing and not those you have just worn to the dance. Use the outer perimeter of the dance floor to get around in the ballroom rather than transiting across the floor. Do not block the flow of dance to engage in conversation with your partner or others; move off the floor and stand in the seating on the very outer perimeter.
The 18- month study looked at seniors with an average age of 68 and placed them in either a group challenged with dance routines or a group challenged with repetitive endurance exercise such as cycling.