Sharing the floor

[pygmalion]

I finally found an article specifically aimed at C&W dance floor etiquette. 8) Some of the standard dance stuff applies -- you know, make sure you shower and use breath mints. But there are a couple tips I've observed, and now found documented, that are pretty specific to a country dance crowd, I think. Have you noticed any dance tips observed (or ignored LOL) that you think a C&W dancer should be aware of? Do tell. 8)

http://www.cowgirls.com/dream/jan/dancetip.htm

[tsb]

as someone who has no c/w background to speak of, i liked the article, thought it made a lot of good points with a level of humor i found enjoyable. i'm going to steal the line about the competition dancers having a lot of rules while the social dancers have a lot of fun.

and i was pleasantly surprised and/or mildly disappointed not to see anything about floorcraft involving dancing around the spittoons... (YES! YES! YES! JUST KIDDING! :P )

[Vince A]

Thanks Jenn . . . that is good reading, although I cursorily read it until I can have more time at home to read it! But about that dance floor diagram . . . that's all said and good . . . if everyone is a C&W dancer.

In a C&W bar . . . you always get some rock and rollers, who get drunk, and dance (???) whatever they are doing right in the middle of two lanes, and yep, some Two-Stepper comes along an he slams right in the middle of the R&Rs. Did somebody say "FIGHT"? Yes, I'm guilty! But at least we're smart . . . we slam into those R&Rs with our dance partner's back!!! :wink:

It happens a lot . . . yet a good DJ could end all this by reminding the dancers about every 30 minutes about dance floor etiquette!

[Chris Stratton]

I was watching a couple do a little quickstep jig in the corner the other day, then pop out with the leader backing blindly to center. I must admit a certain temptation to park a line right there sometime and see if the the jig is of fixed rather than variable length... it would almost be worth taking a hit to make a point.

(yes, I go backwards too, and sometimes do unfortunatley hit people, but most of the things I do offer at least the chance to check that direction shortly before going in it - unlike holding in a fixed orientation for a fixed amount of time easily long enough for the blind exit direction to become blocked)

Any else find they've learned to floorcraft using mirrors when available?

[Vince A]

Chris . . . where are the mirrors? Like around the dance floor-type mirrors? Usually I'm looking into the eyes of my dance partner or a nearby pair of passing (female) Wranglers! I'm honest . . . give me credit!

When I'm dancing, I'm dancing. If I'm backing into the LOD, I always expect the follower to put pressure on my back telling me that we're approaching someone . . . I think . . . even beginners do this instinctively!!!

[Chris Stratton]

Some studios have mirrors - certainly it's nice when your partner helps, but the more information you have the more you can plan.

My ability to handle input has evolved a bit from an early comp where I was like "oh no, there's a couple coming right at us in this quickstep... oh wait, that's us"

[Vince A]

. . . and of course you didn't slam into yourself, right???

[tsb]

Some studios have mirrors

it's rumored that a local studio where an instructor is well known for giving lessons without taking eyes off himself in the mirror for the entire lesson also put mirrors on the bathroom ceiling - so he could watch himself gargle!

[Vince A]

Some studios have mirrors

it's rumored that a local studio where an instructor is well known for giving lessons without taking eyes off himself in the mirror for the entire lesson also put mirrors on the bathroom ceiling - so he could watch himself gargle!
. . . and I bet he even installed mirrors around the toilet, so he could watch himself . . . . . .

[Two Old Bears]

I finally found an article specifically aimed at C&W dance floor etiquette.

http://www.cowgirls.com/dream/jan/dancetip.htm


Thanks for the great referral to this webpage. It's nice to see that our decades of dance floor experience has been so nicely condensed into a clear and logical little diagram -- it "hits the nail on the head" very nicely!

[dancenut123]

I finally found an article specifically aimed at C&W dance floor etiquette. 8) Some of the standard dance stuff applies -- you know, make sure you shower and use breath mints. But there are a couple tips I've observed, and now found documented, that are pretty specific to a country dance crowd, I think. Have you noticed any dance tips observed (or ignored LOL) that you think a C&W dancer should be aware of? Do tell. 8)

http://www.cowgirls.com/dream/jan/dancetip.htm

Thanks for the link because I certainly learned a few things I am going to have to watch out for.

[Steve Pastor]

But nothing looks funnier to me than a rhinestone cowboy doing hand and toe pointing moves like John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. Ballroom and country-western both have their places, but I, personally, don't think the styles should be mixed up.

Hey, Vince, where ya been?

[Wolfgang]

Assuming we're talking about an 'uncontrolled' social setting - such as a bar or night club - 'etiquette' is what you make it.
Country or not.
What I do is attempt to follow the line of dance while remaining flexible to change this at a split second's notice.
I often travel backwards myself so as not to use the lady as a ramrod......
While she turns/spins. I tend to hold out my free arm as a sort of 'barrier' against possible collisions.
Doesn't always work, but my heart's in the right place.
(Which is actually the wrong place, but that's a different topic altogether.....)
There will be many couples doing many different things, regardless of the music - most of them 2-Step to everything (including Waltzes, Cha-Chas, Swings.......), some of them Swing to everything.
Not to worry, just do what you're supposed to and slalom around them.
You will take the occasional hit, dancing is a contact sport, it's ok as long as it doesn't descend into an ice hockey grudge match.
Get used to your shins being kicked, toes squished and heels trampled, that is daily par for the course and you need to quit even noticing it.
Take up skateboarding and you won't even feel whatever they do to you on a dance floor.

[waltzguy]

good article

[JingleBoots]

Hi. I'm JingleBoots. I was prompted to reply to your post because I so very much believe that ettiquette on the dance floor is a MUST, as well as with your crowd. We have a Dance Hall here in West Monroe, LA called "Harvey's Dance Hall" and one of the first things you learn is and should be "dance ettiquette". A lot of people don't realize that dancing is fun and those that attend dances want and "need" to dance. So many times women, as well as men, are left out because they don't have a "date" so to speak. It is always good ettiquette to dance with everyone at your table if you are in a crowd. You should encourage dance, and even teach a little bit if your partner is interested. At a recent dance that I attended one of the girls "forbade" her boyfriend to dance with any other women. I coudn't believe it. To me, that's what makes "partner dancing" so fun and rewarding. Not "belly rubbing" or "fast dancing" but good old fashioned fun. Why would anyone want to leave somebody out of something they enjoy doing? Beats me, but anyway, do continue to share the ettiquette stuff because dancing is supposed to be FUN...not "bad".

[JingleBoots]

Hi Wolfgang. Got tickled at your description of the "dance floor collision".....hockey match? I'm in the 7th chapter of my first novel, set around a dance hall, of course. The lead character actually meets the man of her dreams in a "dance floor collision". Hopefully I'll finish and be published by end of next year. Happy Dancing!
JingleBoots