Dancing 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.