How To’s and How Do’s of Ballroom Dance

While traditional etiquette stipulates that the man asks the woman for a dance, it is becoming increasingly common for women to ask men. People who ballroom dance are there to do one thing: ballroom dance. In other words, you don’t need to feel pressured into doing anything more than dancing. Tired of those silly one-liners? Well, in ballroom dancing there’s only one one-liner, and it never gets old. The only pick-up line in ballroom dancing is “May I have this dance?” And ladies, you can ask the men to dance with this same one-liner. Pretty easy, isn’t it? And in a perfect world neither the man nor the lady should turn the other down. If you must, then please do so gracefully giving a valid reason. If you don’t the word will eventually spread and you will be asked less and less. Neither gender tolerates rejection very well.

When you get more than two people out on the dance floor, collisions can become a problem. So here's another rule of etiquette. Ladies, if you see an oncoming couple about to collide into you and your partner, simply tap your partner gently on the shoulder. This is known as the “international dance panic signal.” Remain calm! Do not grab on for life. If you do, you will probably end up startling your partner and colliding into the oncoming dance team. One of the marks of a great follower ladies, is to be able to follow except in the instance above where your leading navigation can be a lifesaver to all concerned.

Another point of etiquette comes at the conclusion of the dance. Men, it is polite to walk your partner back to her seat. (Generally, it is the man who walks the woman back even if she asked him to dance.)

The last and most important point of etiquette is this: No matter what happens, have fun! Ballroom dancing is meant to be enjoyed - like a great dessert or an afternoon walk in the park. Mingle. Get to know other dancers. Watch the way they move and improve upon your own dancing. Enjoy yourself!

Ballroom is Back!

It is no surprise that ballroom dancing is making such a tremendous comeback. Ballroom dancing carries with it a timeless quality. Remember those romantic scenes when Fred Astaire would sweep Ginger Rogers in his arms and whisk her around the dance floor. Face it, women still love to be romanced, and men, believe it or not, enjoy the chivalry involved in romancing. Ballroom dancing also seems to convey a richness and luxurious quality. In the past, it was a leisure activity which could only be afforded by the well-to-do. Today, while ballroom is being enjoyed by millions of people from all economic brackets and ages, it has not lost its sense of elegance and grace. People enjoy feeling like princes and princesses. Ballroom is bringing all of these qualities back into people’s lives.