The Dance Floor ‘Highway Code’ (Etiquette) & Moving Around The Room (Line Of Dance
Dance Floor ‘Highway Code’: The ideas below form a large part of our dance floor etiquette. It minimises collisions and allows everyone to enjoy dancing around the room with greater ease. On occasions, you may collide with someone; if so, simply apologise and continue to dance.
Anti-Clockwise Direction: Our illustration above represents the imaginary anti-clockwise direction that all Ballroom and some Latin dances (Paso Doble / Samba) must follow around the dance floor. This is also known as Line of Dance.
Understanding Your Dance Space: As nearly all dance floors are rectangular, so is our illustration. This also helps to divide the room into distinct areas: the 2 long sides, 2 short sides and 4 corners.
Imaginary Central Reservation: Always imagine there is a ‘No Go’ line or ‘Central Reservation’. This line divides the full length of the long side in half and is approximately two foot wide. Avoid this area to minimise collisions.
Don’t Clip Wing Mirrors: If you get too close to the ‘Central Reservation’ in your car, you’ll likely eventually clip mirrors with another vehicle. This is the same for couples but with their elbows!
When To Cross The ‘No Go’ Line: Imagine the long side of the floor divided into thirds. You may only cross the line once you’ve progressed along two thirds of the room. The same applies to the short side.
Don’t Hug The Corner: Don’t wait until you’re only a few feet from the edge of your floor to change direction between long/short sides. You may conquer corners at any point once you’ve progressed along two thirds of your floor.
Top Tip: Whilst you’re a beginner, start in a corner with the full length of the long side ahead of you. This gives you more time to think about how you will conquer the upcoming corner.
Anti-Clockwise Direction: Our illustration above represents the imaginary anti-clockwise direction that all Ballroom and some Latin dances (Paso Doble / Samba) must follow around the dance floor. This is also known as Line of Dance.
Understanding Your Dance Space: As nearly all dance floors are rectangular, so is our illustration. This also helps to divide the room into distinct areas: the 2 long sides, 2 short sides and 4 corners.
Imaginary Central Reservation: Always imagine there is a ‘No Go’ line or ‘Central Reservation’. This line divides the full length of the long side in half and is approximately two foot wide. Avoid this area to minimise collisions.
Don’t Clip Wing Mirrors: If you get too close to the ‘Central Reservation’ in your car, you’ll likely eventually clip mirrors with another vehicle. This is the same for couples but with their elbows!
When To Cross The ‘No Go’ Line: Imagine the long side of the floor divided into thirds. You may only cross the line once you’ve progressed along two thirds of the room. The same applies to the short side.
Don’t Hug The Corner: Don’t wait until you’re only a few feet from the edge of your floor to change direction between long/short sides. You may conquer corners at any point once you’ve progressed along two thirds of your floor.
Top Tip: Whilst you’re a beginner, start in a corner with the full length of the long side ahead of you. This gives you more time to think about how you will conquer the upcoming corner.
Fun Facts: The Singing Butler
Do you know the origin of Jack Vettriano's inspiration? Turn to the Ballroom dancing Waltz section of the ‘The Illustrator's Figure Reference Manual’ and you'll see the original image as seen here.
It's thought that Vettriano either flipped the image while tracing it or projected the image onto a wall, hence why the gentleman appears to be in the lady's hold.
It's thought that Vettriano either flipped the image while tracing it or projected the image onto a wall, hence why the gentleman appears to be in the lady's hold.
Celebrate Effort
Celebrate effort and risk-taking. ‘Less than perfect’ is ALWAYS BETTER than ‘not trying at all’. Learning a new step, especially at the beginning, can mean feeling initially rather clumsy, but embrace those few mistakes and enjoy the process of trial and error. It can be incredibly beneficial to your learning process.
Everyone learns so much faster when they practise, receive feedback and act on it. It isn’t possible to practise and master every skill all at once. Learning to dance is a fun and exciting journey.
Videos can be a very useful additional asset. They aid your memory and give you a visual and audio reference, especially if you’ve been unable to practise. However, please remember ‘doing’ is vital and will always be the best way to develop your dancing skills.
Everyone learns so much faster when they practise, receive feedback and act on it. It isn’t possible to practise and master every skill all at once. Learning to dance is a fun and exciting journey.
Videos can be a very useful additional asset. They aid your memory and give you a visual and audio reference, especially if you’ve been unable to practise. However, please remember ‘doing’ is vital and will always be the best way to develop your dancing skills.