Couples Dancing
- Dancing with a more experienced person will often help you progress faster. If you are the experienced dancer, remember what it was like when you began and give back to the beginners.
- Maintain line-of-dance flow! This means don't go opposite of the general counter-clockwise movement around the dance floor. That's like going the wrong way on a one-way street.
- Slower dancers should stay on the "inside track", leaving the outside for the faster dancers.
- Leads should always watch ahead to avoid bumping into other dancers. Avoid using your follow as a bumper. Follows can also help somewhat by watching the other direction. If you do happen to bump into another couple, be sure to apologize.
- For unison couples dances, such as The Barn Dance, try to start the dance with the start of the words to the song. Failing this, follow the first couple to start the dance (unless they start it on an off beat). The idea of unison couples dances is that every couple is doing the same thing at the same time. Ideally, the DJ should count the start of the dance so there is no confusion, but only if he/she knows how to start it properly.
- The difference between "Texas Two-step" and what I call "Country Two-step" or progressive two-step is evident. With the Texas two-step, couples move erratically around the floor, while country two-step progresses around the floor without sudden direction changes (for the most part).
When both types of dancers are on the floor, it can be a dangerous combination if all dancers are not paying attention. Texas two-steppers should move to the center of the floor to allow the progressive dancers to pass freely. If the floor is two small for both to be safe, one should concede the floor to the other, i.e., if there are more Texas two-steppers, the other should concede, and vice versa. This "concession" aids in keeping frustration levels to a minimum and safety high.
- Sometimes more experienced dancers have moves that stop or hesitate on the floor. Be considerate and move to the inside track for these moves so you don't create a hazard for other dancers. If the floor is too crowded, avoid these moves all together.
- Anyone who stops in the middle of either track to have a discussion causes severe problems for other dancers. If the floor is large enough, move to the center to get out of the way. If this is not possible, get off the floor to have your discussion.
- When joining the dance floor after a song has begun and the floor is occupied, be considerate and don't get in the way of progressive dancers. Wait until the path is clear before entering the floor.
- Don't always wait to be asked to dance. Take some initiative. In most (not all) circumstances, it is considered extremely rude to refuse to dance with someone the first time they ask. After the first dance, it's up to you to decide, and be kind if refusing a dance.
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Line Dancing
- Should the DJ call for a specific line dance, that is the only dance that should be done to that particular song.
- Often times a specific song dictates which line dance is done. This offers the DJ the opportunity to control the dance floor and, therefore, the program intended. When a song is a well-known line dance song, everyone should do the dance that is intended.
- If it is not clear which dance to do, the first person on the dance floor who starts a dance should be followed. Never start a second (different) line dance, unless the floor is large enough to accommodate both dances easily. If the first person starts on an off beat, try to fix it quickly.
- If you are trying to learn a dance while others are dancing, please keep to the far end of the dance floor, and do not interfere with the movement of the experienced dancers.
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