1) Mistakes:
Remember that everyone makes mistakes, and awkward moments happen. Try not to step on anyone else’s toes but have a good attitude if it happens. Smile, make a quick apology, and move on. Never accuse the other person of always being at fault. This makes you seem like an arrogant know-it-all. When things go wrong, apologize. If you bump into someone, or step on someone’s foot, tell them you’re sorry. Don’t just ignore them.
2) Conversation:
Chatting should be off the dance floor. If you’d like to talk, do it off the dance floor. The focus should be on dancing well and being aware of your surroundings. Invite your dance partner to rest and enjoy a beverage after the dance so you can chat and get to know each other better. Dancing is nonverbal communication.
3) Dance Flow or Floorcraft:
On most ballroom floors, you will be expected to move in a counter-clockwise direction. If everyone complies, you aren’t as likely to bump into another couple. However, if you do, smile and apologize. This is not the place to have a chip on your shoulder and start a fight. Even if everyone moves in the same direction, you’ll have accidents. If you have a temper, practice apologizing and saying, "Excuse me," before you leave your house so you won’t embarrass your partner or the other couple when it happens on the floor. If you are a slow dancer, stay toward the center of the floor and leave the outer rim to the faster dancers. Don’t clog up the main line of dance. Cross the dance floor around the perimeter. Don’t cut through. Walking across the middle of the ballroom dance floor holding drinks is not good.
4) Clean up your mess.
So, if you are carrying some drinks and you do spill something, clean it up before some dancer slips and gets hurt.
5) Personal hygiene:
Make sure you don’t have bad body odor or bad breath. Make sure you take a shower, brush your teeth, and have breath mints. You will be in close quarters, and you don’t want people holding their breath when they are around you. Use a deodorant that is strong enough to last as long as you’ll be dancing. Avoid smoking if possible. If you must have a cigarette, go outside, but before you go back in, pop a breath mint. Remember that the smells will linger on your clothing and in your hair.
6) Dance at your partner’s ability:
If you are an experienced ballroom dance leader dancing with a beginner follower, don’t expect her to do advanced moves. Build the dance. Start with easy stuff. Once you see that she’s with the timing and following easy patters, try advancing to more difficult ones. If she has difficulty doing one turn, don’t lead her in to a double turn.
7) Sneezing and coughing while dancing:
This does happen. Always sneeze or cough into the underside of your elbow. Do not sneeze into your hand and then ask her to take that hand for dancing.
8) Gum:
Don’t chew gum while dancing. This is annoying to your partner. ls like. It also doesn’t look elegant. Have you ever seen Fred Astaire chew gum while he dances?
9). Grooming and Attire:
Before you go to the dance, find out what the dress code is. You don’t want to show up in jeans to a white tie affair. Make sure you are wearing comfortable shoes since you will be on your feet most of the time, but don't wear sneakers.
10). Invitation to Dance:
In ballroom dance, it doesn’t matter who asks for the dance. It is perfectly acceptable for the man or the woman to approach the other. You don’t have to stay with your date either. Most dancers enjoy a variety of partners on the dance floor, so have an agreement with your date about how frequently you’ll dance with others.
11). Invitation to dance:
Use appropriate language to ask someone to dance. Avoid using cheesy pickup lines at a ballroom event. Here are some easy and to-the-point ways to ask someone to dance:
May I have this dance?
Would you care to dance?
Would you like to waltz?
When you attend a ballroom dance, it’s generally good form to accept a dance with anyone who asks unless you have a very good reason not to. If you have already promised the dance to someone else, you are thirsty, you need to catch your breath from the last dance, or your foot is swelling, the person asking will understand.
If you ask someone to dance, and he or she declines, smile and say, “Thank you. Maybe later.” Don’t be afraid to ask again. However, if you are turned down three times in one evening, graciously take the hint and don’t ask that person again.
12). Show Appreciation:
After the dance is over, thank the other person and applaud all the dancers. The man should walk the woman back to where she was before the dance started, even if she asked him to dance unless she requests otherwise.
13). Compliments:
Acknowledge other people’s accomplishments. Praise your partner or another couple for executing a complicated ballroom step. If there is a competition, congratulate the winning couple.
14. Modesty:
Maintain respect for personal space and boundaries. Keep your hands above the hips and no vulgar dancing.
Sources:
dancefeverstudios.com/ballroom-dance-etiquette/
Proper Etiquette While Ballroom Dancing (thespruce.com)
