Line Dance Instructions - Etiquette for the Dance Floor

Pay Attention!!

Most people pay attention to where they are on the dance floor, no matter what kind of dancing they’re doing, or how experienced they are.  As a rule, when you are in a class receiving line dance instructions, everything moves kind of slow, as you count through the steps, one group at a time, and practice them over and over until they become second nature. However, once you’ve learned the dances and the lights go down and the music starts, that’s another story!

Line dancers tend to really put their hearts and souls, and bodies, into their dancing.  Sometimes they get so “into” the dancing and the music, that they just close their eyes and go with the flow.  And since most line dances are performed singly, there isn’t another person attached to you to keep an eye on where you’re going.

Oh, the things I’ve seen!  Each week after our class, we would have “open dancing”, where the instructor would play the line dance songs for the line dances we knew and we could just dance – sort of pretend we knew what we were doing!  This class was mainly beginners, but there were some intermediate and advanced people there who came just for the open dancing because they just couldn’t get enough line dancing.

One man, who was at the intermediate level, absolutely loved the line dance “Walkin’ Wazzi.”  Whenever the music started, usually “Redneck Rhythm & Blues” by Brooks & Dunn, he would become SO excited and run onto the dance floor, jumping around like a little kid, warming up his line dance moves, waiting to get started!  Then he would ROCK!  He would be right in front, dancing his heart out with his eyes closed and the most enraptured look on his face!  But, he never ran into anyone.  I think the rest of the dancers knew to give him his space!

The List

Well, here is a little list of some common sense line dance etiquette whether you’re at a class, a club, a church social, or in a barn taking line dancing instructions:

• DON’T bring your drinks, glasses or cans onto the dance floor.  They make a big mess if spilled.
• WALK around the outside edge of the dance floor; don’t walk through the lines of dancers.
• IF you have to talk to someone, go off the dance floor.  Don’t just stand there and talk!
• DON’T be tempted to show off when you’re dancing next to new dancers just trying to learn.  You will only intimidate them.  You definitely won’t impress them.
• WHEN you’re in a class, or group, and new people come to join, give them a big welcome and see if they have any questions about how to sign in, or where to put their things, or whatever.  Make them feel welcome.
• It’s easy to collide with someone when the dance floor is crowded.   Take smaller steps if this is the case.  AND, if you collide with someone AND spill their drink, clean up the mess and buy them another drink.
• APOLOGIZE if you collide with someone, even if it’s not your fault.
• IF you have a DJ playing your music, be polite and respectful when you make a request.  They’re human, too.  And if they can’t play your song, don’t be a brat about it.
• REMEMBER the magic words: Please and thank you.
• DON’T  stop dancing to teach someone the steps right in the middle of the dance floor. Find an empty place somewhere to teach them.
• IF you’re starting a dance, go to the front of the dancers so the others can fall in behind you.
• LEAVE the outside edge of the dance floor clear for couple dancers.  Dancers dancing around the edge have the right of way.  Be careful not to block their progress.
• IF the lines are long and you will block the outside edge of the dance floor if you join a line, start another line instead.
• THE line of dance (LOD) is always anti-clockwise.

November 16, 2010 update:
I had a very good comment from a reader, Nelson Wong, that suggested this point of etiquette:
One line dance etiquette that seems to be missed but it’s rather important – Unless you are the lead dancer/instructor of the party, do not say it loud the count/cue of the dance. It’s annoying to those who dance near you, and it’s disrespect of the lead dancer/instructor.

This is a very good point!

Have FUN!

Above all else, have a good time, smile often, and give the Instructor a big THANK YOU for all the line dancin’ fun!

Click here: “I love LINE DANCING!” to buy great line dance DVDs and videos for YOURSELF or your friends!