Partner friendly clothing

P

pygmalion

Well-Known Member
I was just flipping through a web site on dance etiquette which specifically mentioned wearing dance clothes to make life easier for your partner. One example was avoiding women either avoiding wearing watches or wearing them on the left wrist, to avoid scratching or banging into the lead when in closed dance position. Any other ideas of ways you can dress to avoid hurting your partner.

(Funny stories always welcome, btw. :wink: )
 
The obvious stuff. Take off watches, jewelry, bracelets, and anything else which might get caught by one body part sliding over another. Don't wear clothes with spiky stuff or edges, like rhinestone-encrusted tops, or which drape and poof out when spinning to such a degree they can get caught in an outstretched hand. Applies equally to both partners.
 
DITTO what jon said . . . especially the watches for the men.

One of the most difficult things to contend with while dancing with a woman is the loose fitting top, jacket, etc., as jon said "that drape or poof out." It is very difficult to get a hand in there sometimes to guide the lady to where you want her, or to feel exactly what she is doing.
 
No padded shoulders, please! I think experienced dancers would know to avoid them, but I remember try to lead something from the shoulder of someone in a dance class. I got a hand full of shoulder pad, instead of a shoulder.
 
Not being a haberdasher I can't say what the material is, but some clothing is beautiful to look at but horrible to touch and there's other stuff that seems to catch my finger nails.

long ball gowns can sometimes be a hazard; but forget ganchos and you're okay and no turn-ups in mens trousers as one or two partners have stuck their heel in there!
 
Sleeves and perfume

I've had fun dancing with ladies wearing long, long sleeves - you know those ones which are cut in a V that extends way beyond the hand. Sort of King Arthur and Guinnevere. You go to lead something and find that you are just leading a sleeve - interesting.

The other thing that bothers me is ladies who put perfume on their wrists. Sometimes I get weals across the back of my neck and a real burning sensation - it's got to be a perfume that I'm allergic to. I'll never find out who it is or what it is because it takes a little while before I notice the burning. As a result I'm never sure who caused it. It's very uncomfortable though.
 
One thing for ladies is to be very careful when you are wearing high heels. I was at a Salsa workshop last weekend having an absolute blast until this lady stomped on my foot with her sharp pointed heels...and my poor thin Capezios didn't offer me much protection. :oops:

The lady wasn't dancing with me and didn't even know she had done it, but it hurt like hell and I had to take a break for a few minutes.

Luckily, she was really cute so I didn't hold it against her. ;)
 
My instructor took out a chunk of my hair the other week with his watch! Ouch! I have also stopped wearing my rings (I have a ring fettish :lol: ) because one guy complained that I kept sticking him with this one ring. I guessed that I was doing it to others as well and they were just too polite to say anything, so I've stopped wearing them to dancing.

I have always been aware of tight skirts when I am dancing as well. I don't know about the guys, but I don't know how some women expect to dance waltz, etc in a tight skirt. My first instructor when I was a kid used to always have a go at the girls wearing tight skirts (the fashion of the day) because he couldn't step properly in between their legs when dancing. I have never worn a tight skirt and always test out a skirt before I buy it for it's "danceability".
 
jon said:
Take off watches, jewelry, bracelets, and anything else which might get caught by one body part sliding over another.
Click to expand...
Agreed, but I do feel I need to keep my rings on, simply to avoid unwanted attention... :?
 
I remember a very uncomfortable dance at a ball with a partner who had a dress with underwired cups and in the close embrace the wires were digging inot my chest.

:cry: ouch!
 
That must've been some CLOSE embrace. :shock: LOL. Must have been a badly made bra. Underwires shouldn't dig into anybody, her or you.
 
LOL! I had friends that were a couple romantically as well as swing dance partners. They used to do this move, I don't know what it was called, but one person would have their arms behind their back, bend forward at the waist, and turn. Hard to describe but it looked really cool. Well the guy used to like to wear those long chains on his waist that were so popular with the zoot suit crowd. One night they were dancing and when she bent and turned, her hair got caught on his chain. ouch :shock: She spent several minutes in an awkward position while others had to help seperate them. I don't think he ever wore the chain after that.

Christina
 
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