🔸 Updated - Dance Floor Etiquette – What Does It Mean?

For dancers that care

Dance floor etiquette shouldn't be considered as a bunch of rules to impede your fun, but rather as a good attitude as to how we share the dance floor together. A dance floor works best when we share the space generously, maintain awareness of each other, manage the space with thoughtfulness and ensure dancers of all levels feel welcome, have freedom to learn and have individuality, enjoy their dancing and stay safe.

Do

• Have patience - Encourage, welcome and help newcomers - remember, everyone starts off as a beginner and a few kind words can really help to encourage them and may make you a new friend!

• Spatial awareness matters- move freely but thoughtfully, be aware of your fellow dancers and give them room to move. Don't hog floor space at their expense and avoid dancing on top of them.

• Fill the floor from the front - start dances and join lines at the front of the floor, leaving room behind you for others to join.

• Fill the rows - Join a dance that is already in progress on the end of a row with space. Start a new line if all rows are full.

• Make space for people joining the floor, welcome and invite them to join in!

• Clear the dance floor area after a dance ends and before the next dance begins if you're having a conversation with a friend. If you don't need the floor space for dancing, others do.

• Be flexible with your place and position - no one owns a spot on the dancefloor. Be prepared to move around for different dances, help your fellow dancers and to create space.

• Dance on the outside if you know the dance, be helpful to beginners and those that don't know it by leaving the centre free for them and giving them someone to follow.

• Dance in the centre if you are new or don't know the dance, and switch who you follow as we change walls.

• Keep the noise levels down when instruction or announcements are taking place. You may know that dance being taught, but those around you may not so avoid talking over the instructor.

• Keep all drinks and food off the floor at all times.

• Leave the outside edge of the dance floor clear for partner and couple dances, and give way to them.

• Apologise if you bump or collide with someone, even if it wasn't your fault.

• Thank your DJ, instructor and performers. They work hard for you!

• Always... lift your head up, smile and have fun!

Don't

• Never walk through moving dancers on the floor, walk around or wait until the dance has finished. Join a dance in progress in a free space at the end of a row.

• Correct other dancers - unless you've been asked.

• Stand and talk on the floor, always leave the floor to chat.

• Start a different dance to the one being taught in the class - unless the instructor has announced a floor split and there's plenty of room at the back of the floor.

• Turn your limbs into dangerous objects by doing variations like fast spins or high kicks on crowded floors. Individuality is encouraged but keep it safe!

Line dancers on a dance floor