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Dance Floor Etiquette

Country and Western Dance Hall Etiquette is by far the closest search that fits our bar, honkytonk, boots and buckle dancing we love so much. We will touch on finer points. I have seen some Common Country/Western dance floors are divided into Lanes and Areas. The outside lane is the FAST lane. Traffic moves around the dance floor in a counter-clockwise direction, commonly known as the “line of dance.’ If you are going slow, stay in an inner lane and let people pass you on the outside. The closer you go to the center, the slower you may go.

Line dancing is usually done in the middle of the dance floor in an imaginary rectangular space. Sometimes couples will choose to dance around the outside lane...don't stand in their way, as they always have the right of way. Couples, use the entire lane when doing a dance. In other words, don't cut the corners or dance across the floor (unless it can't be helped).

Following dance floor etiquette helps everyone to have fun. The "rules" are not laws. They are not "hard and fast," nor written in stone and handed down from on high. If you give the topic any thought at all, you will, of course, be able to come up with "exceptions" and "what if's?” However, these "rules" or "guidelines" are simple enough and most of them pretty much boil down to: "common sense" and "common courtesy."

Here is a list of some etiquette practiced at our dances.

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• If you bump into someone, smile and apologize

• Leaders - look where you are going, and be prepared for the unexpected

• Followers - watch the leader's blind spot

• If you are an advanced dancer find a beginner dancer at least once during the night and ask them to dance

• If you are a beginner dancer, don't be afraid to ask an advanced dancer to dance

• Dance with lots of people

• If you promise someone the next dance, be sure to find them on the "next dance,"

• Dance into and through the corners

• On the social dance floor, don't teach, offer suggestions or critique your partner's dancing

• Speaking of fault...when something goes wrong, always assume it is your fault

• At the end of a dance, thank your dance partner

• Dance your first and last dance with the one you came with

• Personal hygiene is important when dancing

• When getting water from a bartender, leave a tip

• If you are not dancing, do not stand on the dance floor

• Drinks and good dance floors don't mix. Do not take drinks on the floor. Ever!

At an organized dance event filled with people who are there for the express purpose of dancing then there really are only four valid reasons to say no:
 

1. You have an injury of some kind which prevents you from dancing.

2. You just got done dancing a long set of dances and you're tired. When you do this, be sure that you sit out the whole song.

3. You don't know how to do the dance style at all.

4. While it is encouraged to accept invitations to dance, you are not obligated to dance with anybody, especially if you have encountered a history of them invading your personal space, dancing too personally, causing you pain, or monopolizing your time.

Lastly, Our Constitution and By-Laws section lll.2 states:  "The members shall comply with Dakota Country Dance Club's Constitution and with Dance Hall Etiquette so as not to reflect negatively upon the Club".

So, show respect and have fun dancing!

​​Dance Floor Etiquette

Country and Western Dance Hall Etiquette is by far the closest search that fits our bar, honkytonk, boots and buckle dancing we love so much. Some documents are short and sweet saying use courteous common sense to about a five page knock down drag out got everything covered. So let’s hit the finer points on any given night that I have seen good or bad.