Dance Floor Etiquette when socially salsa dancing
(sorry gentlemen most of this is for you):
- Hygiene: wear a deodorant, perfume or aftershave as dancing can be a smelly job!! Maybe even try a breath mint before class.
- Make friendly eye contact with your partner but also don’t stare.
- If a lady is coming off the dance floor and looks exhausted, you might like to wait for a more opportune time to ask her to dance, or go and get her a drink first and then ask her.
- If they are obviously with someone else you can check out the body language before asking someone to dance. Some people are quite happy to change partners, but others are not.
- If you try a fancy move and your partner doesn't get it, either try it again later, or move onto something else. It’s frustrating for both of you - and probably quite embarrassing for her.
- Please don’t teach on the social dance floor. Teaching is for classes and social nights are for having fun and trying out your moves.
- When the floor is really, really crowded please remember to alter your dancing. Make your moves smaller, no big dips & tricks and watch spinning your partner out. Men: it is your job to stay in your area and protect your partner, nobody likes a heel on their foot or an elbow in the wrong place...
- To men who know lots of fancy footwork/shines: if you can see your partner doesn’t know many steps, please don’t leave her feeling useless. It might not be fun for her to dance alone and keep doing basics while you look good.
- Never take being turned down on the social dance floor personally - they may have just had a bad day, not like the music choice or just need a drink.
- And finally - please remember lots of people have had injuries to their body through sports or accidents. Please be careful to respect the ladies wishes if she does not want to dip.