This entry was posted on Monday, March 2nd, 2009 at 8:13 pm and is filed under Ballroom Dancing, Men & Women, Shoes, Types. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
Dancing is a social activity and therefore etiquette overrides EVERY OTHER consideration. 
Classes and practice sessions are one thing, dancing in public is another. We all know people who practice comp routines in public or do a samba lesson right on the dance floor while the band is playing a waltz. This is rude and offensive to other dancers in the venue. More topical is the question of being rude to our partners. I know some people who can’t STOP teaching. I don’t know why they do it but it is annoying to many followers (Or what about the followers who can’t stop back-leading or offering suggestions?) Remember that there are many people out there who are not obsessed about dance. They just like to spend a few hours every now and then moving to music, having fun. They will wear low heel ballroom dance shoes and dance to their heart. They don’t care about correct steps or proper technique or line of dance or whatever. You must first consider who you are dancing with, what their abilities and preferences are.
Remember that dancing should be fun. Don’t sweat it if you “Flub and mess up a pattern.” Do what you can, and enjoy what you do. Agree with your partner, in advance, that you’ll put fun first. Don’t make an issue of each other’s errors; those made at the ballroom are cues for what to practice later.
