Dance floor etiquette

[leetx]

How do some guy/girls get all the dance action. How does one get a person of the other sex to dance with them? How does one get the most out of a dance (mostly nightclub style and slow-dance)

I read a lot of loose articles, but in a recent school dance (prom), I felt like I kept making the same mistakes.

[Rose of Cairo]

Can you tell us what these mistakes were?

[leetx]

not getting enough dance. feeling self conscious walking around alone on the dance floor. Being the only one there w/o a partner. having all the girls taken or occupied.

[Jamie]

Originally Posted by leetx

How do some guy/girls get all the dance action. How does one get a person of the other sex to dance with them? How does one get the most out of a dance (mostly nightclub style and slow-dance)

I read a lot of loose articles, but in a recent school dance (prom), I felt like I kept making the same mistakes.

Hello,

I do a lot of salsa, and most often have a fantastic time, and get the impression that most ladies I dance with too, are aslo having a great time.

Some advice (coming from salsa background, so not sure how this translates to other forms of dance) ...

Being good at dancing, considerate, fun, cheeky, creating a connection, a shared energy. Just be there to enjoy the dance, not chasing or fondling the ladies, though it's okay if they're inclined to be flirty-touchy-feely with me, if I'm okay with that. Enjoy yourself. Do what you can to make her have a fun time. Focus on your own fun! Learn how to dance (take lessons). Be sensetive, smooth and sensual, not lugging her around the dance floor. Be subtle, less is more (make smaller moves is often better than big ungalant moves). Have 'floor-craft' (an awareness of, and even interation or banter with other couples on the dance floor).

Hope that helps!

[JimOfferman]

Originally Posted by leetx

How does one get a person of the other sex to dance with them?

You ask him/her to dance with you.

How does one get the most out of a dance (mostly nightclub style and slow-dance)

By enjoying the dance for what it is: a dance.

When you dance with someone who is up for more than just a dance, trust me, you will know.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Jamie

Being good at dancing, considerate, fun, cheeky, creating a connection, a shared energy. Just be there to enjoy the dance, not chasing or fondling the ladies, though it's okay if they're inclined to be flirty-touchy-feely with me, if I'm okay with that. Enjoy yourself. Do what you can to make her have a fun time. Focus on your own fun! Learn how to dance (take lessons). Be sensetive, smooth and sensual, not lugging her around the dance floor. Be subtle, less is more (make smaller moves is often better than big ungalant moves). Have 'floor-craft' (an awareness of, and even interation or banter with other couples on the dance floor).

Hope that helps!

Jamie, you sound like such a fun dance partner!

[Jamie]

Salsa is a blast Angela! .. and if you're a guy, even more fun, there's always less men that women, I think for a lot of men, the perception is that partnered dance (salsa, tango etc), is effeminate. Their loss, it just results in a better men to women ratio, for me; hehe.

Best advice I can give to guys, is to be less physical and more subtle, less hard, more soft and sensual, but still firm (you don't want to push her about, neither do you want her pushing you about). I find I need to fit my dance style to the skill level of the woman, if she's a beginner, or a bit rough, I need to be more rigid and firm with her; the more suble (soft) she is, the more suble I can be.

Defo recommend salsa to anyone; it's a skill and it takes time to learn and get good, just think of it as an investment, and you'll never be short of good dance partners if you're skilled yourself. In contrast, regular club-scene dancing, doesn't seem to have the same scope to learn and improve, and develop your skill. I guess it's horses for courses, and different things appeal to different people.

[leetx]

how do u get a partner/ move into the dance floor? I feel like i spend more time watching than dancing.

[JimOfferman]

Originally Posted by leetx

how do u get a partner/ move into the dance floor? I feel like i spend more time watching than dancing.

Walk up to her, ask, then if she says 'yes', gently take her hand and guide her to a spot on the dance floor.

We've been doing that for centuries now - the technique is pretty much proven at this point

[SmellyOrc]

ULTIMATE Dance Floor Guide

Dance magic and power of eyes

[SmartAlx]

Great thread. I dance salsa too. Jamie, you should visit Houston. There are more guys than girls here. Hmm... Maybe I should visit your city instead since there are more women there. Although the lady dancers here are pretty good dancers.

To answer the OP. If you are a guy, ask a girl to dance. Dancing is the best icebreaker in the world. It's so perfect. When you ask a girl to dance, chances are that if she doesn't want to dance with you, because she avoids conflict, she's going to tell you that she doesn't know how or isn't good. She just opened herself up to a private dance lesson with you. All you have to say is, "it's ok. I can show you." bam! She can't say no.

If you are a girl, make yourself available. Position yourself by the dance floor and look like you want to dance. Don't take your drink. Don't talk to your friends. Some guys won't want to interrupt a conversation. If there's a specific guy you want to dance with, either ask him or position yourself near him and make yourself available and appear interested.