6 Techniques to Avoid Collisions on the Dance Floor

Nothing jars you out of you a wonderfully flowing dance movement faster than an unexpected bump from behind. It’s just one of the things a leader must watch out for on the social dance floor, along with stepped-on toes, elbows to the face, mule-kicks to the shin, and bruised egos. Yet most collisions on the dance floor can be avoided, with a little awareness and the right instincts. The following 6 techniques will teach you the unspoken rules of dance etiquette, so you can take care of yourself and your partner on a crowded dance floor. Continue reading "6 Techniques to Avoid Collisions on the Dance Floor"

Help! My Partner Can’t Lead (or Follow)

We’ve all been there. You’re out on the social dance floor, trying to move with your partner, and for whatever reason it’s just not clicking. Maybe you’ve got a full compliment of steps you can’t wait to try out, but your follower seems to be completely ignoring you. Or maybe you’ve practiced following every dancer in your group class, but this guy won’t even lead half of them (and you can’t feel the lead for the other half). What’s a dancer to do? Continue reading "Help! My Partner Can’t Lead (or Follow)"

Where Can I Go Latin or Ballroom Dancing?

Everywhere! Seriously, that’s one of the beautiful things about dancing - there’s virtually no place you can’t dance. I’m not advising you to break into a Charleston halfway through your board meeting, but the main limitation is how comfortable you feel in your own skin.

All that said however, I know most of you are really asking ‘where can I go dancing with other people?’ so let’s look at a few of the more and less common places to bust a move. Continue reading "Where Can I Go Latin or Ballroom Dancing?"

Danciquette 101: How to avoid hurting (or getting hurt) on the dance floor

Who likes a dance where the leader is crushing your hand, while whipping you hard enough around you know you’ll need an extra chiropractic appointment this week? I don’t either.

If your partner is someone you know well, it’s usually okay to ask him or her to change before any permanent damage is done. But bringing up the issue with a stranger presents a difficult situation: How do we avoid offending our partner, while still getting across that they need to try something different? And if you’re the leader, how can you tell if you are doing something that’s bothering your partner? Continue reading "Danciquette 101: How to avoid hurting (or getting hurt) on the dance floor"

Social Ballroom Dancing: A Survival Guide

So, you’ve attended a few group classes, learned the basics of moving your partner (or being moved) around the floor, and generally starting to feel like maybe your vision of becoming a sharp and sexy dancer might not be a total pipe-dream after all. Time to take it to a social ballroom dancing club, right?

Well, yes, but there’s a few things you should probably know before you run out the door. Continue reading "Social Ballroom Dancing: A Survival Guide"