Blogpost 4 : Dance:Proper Decorum?

We all experience having etiquette anywhere today, in school, in the workplace, even in everyone’s homes. In school, we follow the sense of respect to teachers, camaraderie with other students; in the workplace, we treat each co worker as professionals and in our home, we certainly follow a distinct time curfew and etc. But do you think dancing has etiquette to be followed?

In one of our dance classes when I was in grade school, we are guided with such “dance etiquette”. We practiced dance etiquette like when you ask someone to dance, on what you should wear, who to ask, personal grooming and etc. Learning this proper decorum is somehow logical to all of us that whenever you ask a person to dance, ask him with respect and to wear proper attire that will not distract others when you dance.

I can relate to this topic an article entitled “Elements of Dance Etiquette” in utdallas. This articles covers all the elements that is needed to know in dance (etiquette). It also consists of such minor rules in dancing to be able to establish proper social dance behavior.

According to the author, Aria Nosratinia: “Why do we care about dance etiquette? Because it is nice to know how to go about in the dancing circles. It makes the difference between having a happy or unhappy dancing experience, the difference between people wanting, or not wanting to dance with you.”

Knowing this quote from the author enlighten me that dance etiquette are not just to establish proper dance behavior but to know also if you are having happy or unhappy experiences in dancing. Learning through this etiquette will prevent anyone from being humiliated to someone also, for example, when you tried to ask someone to dance and he or she declines it, learning this proper decorum  will lead you to a respective way of accepting his or her declination.

Another article that I can I relate to is entitled, “Social Dance Etiquette” in sfzydeco. In this article summarizes that dance etiquette are categorized to gender. Male dancer etiquette is far different from female dancer etiquette. This article also tells about how to not limit yourself to dance but limit yourself in a way you are seen dancing with respect.

According to Salsa Crazy : “Let me start by acknowledging a simple truth. As you become a more advanced dancer, the ability to express yourself through the music greatly increases. You no longer need to count, nor think about "what am I going to do next"? Your body is now comfortable doing all the moves, yes, even the neck wrap. The dance becomes, ideally, an extension of yourself and your personal interpretation of the music. With this in mind, let's get to the meat…What you do, is ultimately going to be determined by the specific facts of the situation (and your mood at the time), but etiquette urges restraint! Reign it in, keep it tight, give them a little more space. It takes a great dancer to dance fast and smooth in a very small space. I'm not saying it's easy to dance with speed and grace in a large space, but I am saying that to dance in a controlled manner, in a smaller space, requires much more skill. Anyone can flail at enormous speed in a vast space. We see it all the time.”

Try to picture yourself dancing in a very small room in which you cannot move easily.  It takes a skilled dancer to work on his movements even though your space is too small. Just like following the proper dance decorum, you must keep your dance high and your pride down. Let yourself loose at the same time, lose that unpleasant behavior. Try to be a good dancer at the same time a gentlemen and a lady when you dance on the dance floor.