Salsa Dancing Etiquette

Maybe it’s your first time dancing and you don’t know how to make a great first impression. Still, maybe you have been going out dancing for a while but are finding that dancers aren’t dancing as much with you. No worries, in all of these cases we are here to help you pick up some basic Salsa Dancing Etiquette. These tips may seem obvious but you would be surprised at how few people follow them.

Be assertive, not aggressive.

When asking someone to dance, please ASK them to dance, do not just grab their hand and drag them on the dance floor. It’s ok if someone says no (remember it’s not about you) and usually, it’s nothing personal. Followers, be assertive, ask leaders to dance as well. It’s a big complement to big asked to dance by anyone.

Be polite.

When turning someone down from a dance (for any reason) do not then turn around (during the same song) and ask someone else to dance or say yes to someone else’s offer to dance, even if the offer is from someone that you’ve been waiting to dance with all night. If you have turned down an offer to dance, good manners dictate that you must sit out that dance.

Adapt to your dance partner.

Leaders, this means getting to know your partner (especially if you’re dancing with someone the first time) and BE GENTLE! Followers, this means keeping styling to a minimum in the beginning of a dance. You don’t want to overwhelm your leader and make it about you. Every dancer is different and that you must adapt to your Leader’s/Follower’s strengths and weaknesses. Paying attention to your dance partner and their comfort level in turn patterns, embrace, and styling will make for a more enjoyable experience for both of you.

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