Nameless Faces

[Lockstep]

Every night I dance with so many girls, it's hardly doable to keep asking for names and remembered them.

There's a bunch I've been dancing with for months and we'd never bothered to ask each other names, though in some cases we've had long chats and whatnot.

Pretty curious to the outcome of the poll. Put it in Salsa as I imagine the issue is much more common here than in ballroom, no?

[Pacion]

If your dance scene is small (or you don't dance with strangers :wink: ) then I think it would be fairly easy to remember names, if they are exchanged in the first instance.

That said, I do try and ask names and try to remember them AND try to use them :lol: so that the person knows that I know/remember their name, even though they don't remember mine :( :lol:

I think it was here at DF that we had a thread about asking someone their name and under what circumstances. From recollection, a few people admitted that they would ask their partner's name, if they enjoyed the dance - so that is one more clue if you wondered whether your dance was a good/enjoyable one or not. :wink:

[jamaicanspice]

well considering I've been dancing at the same place for over three years now :? ......I think it safe to say I now know at least eight people by name.............. :oops: I think :oops:

[Patapouf]

I may not know the person's name the first time, but it's been one of my "resolutions" that I'll try to remember people's name. So after the first dance we may exchange a few words, usually that includes our names, and I'll try to remember it. I may forget them but a lot of times I remember the name (after I made my resolutions about remembering names), so the next time I dance with the person, I'll remember his name!

[Sagitta]

I'm still trying to get better...
:oops:

[salsachinita]

My local dance scene isn't so big (similar to Seattle according to CapricornDancer?) that you'd lose track of names (of the regulars anyway).

If you like dnacing with them, and there's something special/different about the way they dance, I find it easier to remember names (either that, or they end up getting a nickname, which everyone eventually remember them as :wink: ).

[Big10]

I've always had a thing for wanting to know people's names if I'm interacting with them, so I probably ask for a dance partner's name about 95% of the time. Knock off a few percent for names I can't understand because the music is too loud, and another few percent because I simply forget -- and I still felt comfortable checking off "80%-90%" in the poll.

When I have forgotten a name, I don't feel shy about admitting that and asking them to tell me again. (So many people have forgotten my name that I realize it's not an unusual phenomenon to forget.) I actually feel sort of guilty when there are people I've danced with dozens of times and seen socially yet I don't know their first and last names, along with the proper spellings. I'm just kind of weird that way. :oops:

[squirrel]

I know the regulars and my students... so I;d say about 60% of the people... :)

[Lockstep]

oh my, seems im the exception here then! ill try to better myself!

[Lucretia]

This is one of my on-going projects - learn to know the names. I have done pretty well in classes. Specially rueda. I think "Hello John", "Hello Sven" everytime we trade partners.

But the girls - I have no idea! :cry:

/Luc

[Sagitta]

oh my, seems im the exception here then! ill try to better myself!

Ok. Good for you. :)

[Houdinni]

30-40% tops...

I dance with too many people and have trouble memorizing names. And after 5th or 6th time you have to stop asking, or it would be plain impolite...

But over time I'm getting to remember more names, but then again new people keep pouring into the salsa scene! Thank God for that! :)

[Swingolder]

I really try, but once I think I have the names in, they slip right back out! And it can be very embarrassing when I try to introduce other friends to the dance crowd.

[borikensalsero]

I dance with about one hundred different ladies a week yet I only know about 5 names. I'll say hi to them and have a full blown conversation, but their names :oops: I've just never asked.

[aragonh]

You know whats worse?

Asking their names and then forgetting it the next time you dance with them. :(

Then, what do u do?
"Umm I forgot your name, and will likely forget it again, but what is it?"
:oops:

[randomMysh]

I suck at names, always have. So I just tell them that the first time I dance with them, and tell them to please forgive me if I have to ask again, and then ask. Since they were warned, they don't get to get upset--it's not personal! Although I still get embarrassed. :oops:

You know what really helps? Gossip! :shock: :P
Although that's bad too.
I just can't win.
*sigh*

[Lockstep]

fortunately, when i do forget and want to know, i usually find they also forgot and are equally embarassed

[Vin]

I make an effort to ask every woman I dance with her name. Normally the people I regularly dance with I remember there names. Sometimes I can't hear her name properly or I forget but I would say I know the names of about 85% of the people I dance with on any given night.

[tj]

I make an effort to ask every woman I dance with her name. Normally the people I regularly dance with I remember there names. Sometimes I can't hear her name properly or I forget but I would say I know the names of about 85% of the people I dance with on any given night.

Which again is why I lean on Vin when I forget names... 8)


Actually, the "say the person's name 3x" thing, seems to be working for me, so thank you whomever mentioned this!

[DancePoet]

well considering I've been dancing at the same place for over three years now :? ......I think it safe to say I now know at least eight people by name.............. :oops: I think :oops:
If we go dancing I won't tell you my name either. ;) :lol:

[RugKutta]

Whenever I dance with a lady I've never met before, I always ask her name on the way to the dance floor. Sometimes I remember, sometimes I don't. I have better memory when it was a really good dance and/or a really pretty face :) , but even that fails sometimes. when I forget a lady's name, I'm always apologetic about it and say something like, "I'm sorry, what was your name again?", or "You're gonna hate me for this, but what's your name again?" Sometimes, when I know it's the 2nd or 3rd time I've asked, I'll kinda joke w/ her about it afterwards and say "OK, let me massage that into my head so I won't forget." Then I slowly repeat her name a few times while pretending to massage my forehead. That always gets a giggle or two or at least a smile. But after all that, it makes me feel better to know that they usually fogot my name, too! I think everyone is equally bad with names given that we all dance w/ so many people in a night, so if they're like me they're cool as long as you remember them in general.

Luv, Peace, and SALSA

Myron