Pet Peeves at Dances

It's a question I can't help but ask, it always produces interesting insights and responses.

Mine would be:

1) People with bad hygene, especially when you can tell from a distance (OY!!)

2) People who constantly criticize you, constantly correct you and try to teach you while dancing, a HUGE no-no!! This is very demeaning and belittling.

3) A woman who won't let you lead

4) Snottyand/or disinterested attitudes. The worst one is when someone projects this air of "Im doing you a favor by dancing with you!". Dancing is supposed to be FUN!!

5) At social dances, couples who have complete absolute disregard for others around them (exemplified for instance, by darting in between other couples showing off their competition moves that need a whole empty floor to pull off. That is just pure arrogance!)

6) When someone refuses a dance with you, saying they're sitting it out or just leaving, then seeing them seconds later dancing with someone else, talk about RUDE!!!!!!!! That's a person I would NEVER ask again!

7) Snobbery. It kills me how some folks look down on other types of dances and the people that love them. For instance, I've gotten incredulous looks and expressions from one or two folks because I like EC AND WC Swing. To me, it's all good!

What are yours, from the ridiculous to the sublime?

pet peeves

Add to the list: people who seem to think that they are good enough to not "need" private instruction. There is NO SUBSTITUTE for it. No one "needs" private lessons, but most will certainly benefit from the input of a qualified instructor.

Phil Owl said:

6) When someone refuses a dance with you, saying they're sitting it out or just leaving, then seeing them seconds later dancing with someone else, talk about RUDE!!!!!!!! That's a person I would NEVER ask again!

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Of all these this is the one that I see most often done. They say they're tired and need to rest and then they are up dancing with someone else. I sometimes wonder though if the guy who asks next is pushy about it.

Dancing Pet Peeves

:lol:
I'd have to say that one of my biggest peeves is when somone is considered a big fish in a little pond where they come from, but wont leave their own realm for fear of not recieving the same attention and compliments. I call it the "shock-collar syndrome." If they dare to cross the threshhold of another vicinity, they'll recieve a shock around their neck. :roll:

Someone that concentrates on making a conversation so bad that they keep stepping on you. Please don't talk about what you had for dinner, how you cooked it, what you ate on, which wine went best, and what you were wearing while we are tango-ing!! :roll:

MIss Alyssa . . . "especially if they haven't brushed their teeth yet!!!"

Oh gosh, don't remind me. I had a guy that was in my training class that always had breath that smelled like sour milk. EVERY DAY!! eew. :shock:

I remember about 10 years ago when I was a trainee the studio owner took me aside and told me some of the ladies had complained that I smelled. I was shattered. Did I really smell? Who was complaining? Needless to say, I always made sure I was clean, wearing deodorant and carrying breath mints.

As much as it may hurt the person, I think you should try to find a tactful way to let them know, because you are actually doing them a good service by letting them know.

Spitfire said:

Phil Owl said:

6) When someone refuses a dance with you, saying they're sitting it out or just leaving, then seeing them seconds later dancing with someone else, talk about RUDE!!!!!!!! That's a person I would NEVER ask again!

Click to expand...

Of all these this is the one that I see most often done. They say they're tired and need to rest and then they are up dancing with someone else. I sometimes wonder though if the guy who asks next is pushy about it.

Click to expand...

I did this, once (very careful now). The second person who asked was one of the hosts, I knew him well, and I...--he put out his hand and my automatic response was to get up and dance. The first person hadn't even realized I "dissed" him, until I apologized to him! (Still dancing with him a lot). Keep in mind that it's tricky for some of us to refuse a dance to begin with, so doing it twice during the same song is even harder!

samba ajr said:

I did this, once (very careful now). The second person who asked was one of the hosts, I knew him well, and I...--he put out his hand and my automatic response was to get up and dance. The first person hadn't even realized I "dissed" him, until I apologized to him! (Still dancing with him a lot). Keep in mind that it's tricky for some of us to refuse a dance to begin with, so doing it twice during the same song is even harder!

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You make a good point samba ajr -- that although it is, ideally, something to be avoided, sometimes there's more to the situation then meets the eye, i.e. you really do want to sit the next dance out but then a friend you only see every couple of months says they're leaving but asks you for a last dance, etc.

At the same time, however, if a pattern of this nature develops it really is quite rude. Its one thing if the potential partner just says "no thank you", but if a reason is given, hypocrisy should not then ensue.

I've come across this a few times..

people standing, drinking a beer on the dance floor at country music clubs. they act like we [the dancers] should say "excuse me" when we bump into them...

:evil:

Hi everyone, I'm new here. I hope I'm posting this on the right page. Your title "Pet Peeves" caught my eye. I agree with all your pet peeves! Mine also is other couples who bump into you or step on you because they are throwing their parter around wildly and not paying attention while dancing on a crowded floor. As far as not dancing with one person and turning around and dancing with someone else, although it's not polite, sometimes it cannot be helped. I think people need to be less sensitive about it and just try to have fun.

Hi dancergal,

Welcome to the Dance Forums!
One time this couple just kept running into me. At every party, it seemed they would always have a major collision with me. To make matters worse, they kept smiling even after they ran into me. Finally, I had enough and I was red in the face, and said, "Look, you better watch where you are going. This has gone too far!" Then the lady said, "My partner is blind. I would appreciate it if you would be especially careful when you see us nearby." I was astounded and ashamed. Morale of the story: Sometimes is better to learn a little bit about the person before passing judgement.

Another time, there was this guy that kept running into people and he has no excuses. We surprised him in the middle of the dance by wrapping him in packing wrap. Two people ran at him, one on either side. He didn't know what hit him until he was immobilized. That was a little rash, but he was much more careful after that.

Welcome to the forums dancergal!

A couple more:

1) Partners who insist on using a deathgrip, makes it impossible to lead and in some cases, just plain HURTS! :shock: A variation is when the partner gets so stiff and rigid (especially in the arms), makingit impossible to lead.

2) Along the lines of what Dance Mentor and Dancergal said, couples or people that pointedly have NO awareness of people around them resulting in multiple collisions and such. Sometimes at Lindy/Swing events, people try dangerous moves that can endanger their partner of others. More and more I've noticed many Swing venues have strict rules against doing aerials and acrobatic moves on the premises.