Dance Etiquette

Most importantly… Remember to have fun, be safe and dance your socks off!!!

Please remember to wash your hands or use the hand sanitizer provided at check-in on arrival
Always remember to apply deodorant before class and as needed during the evening
Bring a spare shirt or towel if you sweat a lot :P
Have a mint or brush your teeth before arriving at class

Do not arrive at dance classes or parties intoxicated
Follows, please remember not to wear large or sharp rings, jewellery etc. that may cause injuries or become uncomfortable for your dance partner

During freestyle, walk around the outside of the dance floor to where you want to go, not through the space where other people are dancing

Leads and Follows - Please do not teach moves on the dance floor unless your partner asks you to. Remember that other dancers may not know certain moves that we teach. If they don’t pick up the move on the first time, continue onto the next move
Leads - While we recommend that you do not do lifts on the dance floor even if you are capable. Make sure you ask your dance partner beforehand and ensure that you have enough space around you to safely do so
Be safe in your leading and always ask your partner if they are comfortable doing dips, leans and/or drops
Be safe in your following and If you are not comfortable doing dips, leans and/or drops, please let your partner know
Be aware of your space and other dancers on the dance floor
Remember don’t be afraid to ask people to dance. If they say no, smile and move on and ask the next person

For freestyle dancing in Nelson we fully encourage people to swap roles and have fun while being safe:)

But for classes, please remember that not everyone is comfortable with this

For our classes:

Dancers will only be able to change roles from their original role once they have been at an intermediate level for at least one year. This is for your own benefit, as this will allow you to learn the basics of one role before swapping to the other

If you have swapped roles in class:

When you meet a new/existing dancer that you have not danced with before, please make sure you ask: "would you like to dance? or would you like to watch the class until we next rotate?"
Please be aware of the rest of the class. If you see someone spare who cannot change roles, you should switch roles back automatically.
If a dancer asks to partner with you in the class, switch back roles. Please do not reject them.
You may need to return to your original role if the instructor needs to balance the class to allow people who can't swap roles to dance.