Practicing Great Dance Etiquette

West Coast SwingDancing is, and should be many things—fun, exhilarating, graceful, and much more. In order for it to be these things, everyone involved must work together, and that means more than learning the right steps. People must be mindful of one another, supportive, and work to create a safe, pleasant space to dance and learn. There is such a thing as dance class, and general social dancing etiquette. Most of this etiquette is common sense, but here are a few reminders of what you can do.

Greet Others, Be Kind, and Smile

Pleasantness and a smile go a long way, particularly when you start with them. Try to start with a kind “Hello” and a smile; you could find it impacts every meeting positively from that point forward.

Try to Be on Time

It’s hard to get everything from a dance class if you’re late. Plus, it disrupts your teacher and other students, and someone else might be left without a partner. The best thing to do for you and everyone is to always do your best to be on time. Everyone understands that traffic can be terrible and there is nothing you can do about it (particularly in Houston), so others will probably be forgiving, too.

Practice Patience

Learning takes time and practice, for you and everyone else in the class. Anytime you learn something new, it can be frustrating. It’s important to practice patience. Be patient with yourself and trust your teacher to help you. Be patient with your fellow classmates, too.

Remember that You’re Learning, Too

If you’re dancing with a partner who is newer to the dance than you, or is learning a little more slowly, it could be frustrating. Don’t try to teach, however. You might not realize you’re doing it, and it can make things uncomfortable for your partner. Trust your teacher to help, and be patient.

Be Encouraging

Positive energy and encouragement go a long way for everyone. The polite thing to do is take a moment to be encouraging sometimes to your partner and classmates. Everyone needs to be reminded that they’re improving, or will.

Listen Well

Your teacher knows the dance and how to teach it, so listen to what she or he has to say. When you dance with your partner, listen to that person, too. Dance is largely about communication, even when it’s not verbal. Listening and paying attention are keys, and being polite.

Be Open to Partners

When you’re in a class, you never really know who your partner will be. You might get someone familiar, and you might not. You might be partnered with someone who knows as much as you, and you might not. Be open to new partners; dancing with them is the chance for new learning experiences.

Admit When You’re Wrong, or May be Wrong

If you step on someone’s feet, always apologize. If someone steps on your feet, never assume it’s their fault. Learners will make mistakes, even as they get better. Practice good etiquette and be willing to apologize.

Be Thankful

It’s important to have a partner when you’re learning. When someone dances with you, learns with you, and they’re kind, patient, and have all-around good dance etiquette, that’s worth being thankful. So, thank your dance partners after each dance.

Great dance etiquette is more than just politeness; it makes the entire dance class experience better for everyone. It’s much easier to learn when everyone is pleasant. Come to Dance Passion Studio to enjoy learning to dance.

Food for Dance Fuel

Delicious  portion of  fresh salmon fillet  with aromatic herbs,Health is important for everyone, no matter what they do. Of course, if they’re active, sometimes they need a little extra boost to stay that way. To keep your body strong enough to dance on a regular basis, you need good nutrition. Food is fuel; get the right stuff to keep you dancing.

Before beginning any new health routine, whether it involves exercise or changes in your diet, remember to consult your doctor. Once you have done that, consider these nutrition tips. They could give you the boost your body needs.

Protein

Protein is an important part of keeping muscles strong. This doesn’t necessarily mean consuming large amounts in all forms—meat, supplements, etc. That is primarily for those who want to build a lot of muscle. To be active and dance, you just need to help your muscles grow and strengthen enough to keep moving. Lean protein is the best way to do this—very lean, low cholesterol meats like chicken, turkey, and salmon are great. Remember to eat in moderation and consult your physician about any health concerns you may have when it comes to increasing protein.

Water

Your body needs plenty of water; you probably know this. The more you are active, the more water you need. There is such as thing as drinking too much, so don’t overdo it. Talk to your doctor about how much you drink. If you find yourself with increasing thirst, that could be a sign of a medical issue, and again, you should talk to your doctor. Otherwise, just make sure to drink some water before, during, and after activity.

Carbs

Carbs have long been the subject of debate among dieters. Some say avoid them more than anything, while others say you need them more than anyone is willing to say. Ultimately, it’s usually find as long as you practice good portion control and eat more of the right kind of carbs. Carbohydrates are classic sources of energy–good calories that give you the energy to do more. Talk to your doctor about what kind of carbs you should eat, and how much.

Eat smarter and you’ll feel better during activity. Get the right food for dance fuel with the help of your physician, and come take dance classes with us at Dance Passion Studio.