Dance Etiquette

Dance etiquette is about how you behave on the dance floor. The dance floor is a shared resource. This means that if some people want to two-step to a particular song and other people want to swing to that same song, they should be able without problem.

Due to space and crowd considerations at Hoedowns, line dancing and two-stepping to the same song is not advised. Line dances are called out before they are played, thus yielding the right of way to the line dancers.

Thursday through Saturday nights are the busiest times at Hoedowns. If you really want to get some good practice in, come in on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. You can stay for the dance class and then to practice on a less crowded dance floor.

ON the Dance Floor...

NO FOOD, DRINKS, SMOKING (ANYTHING) OR CHEWING GUM IS ALLOWED ON THE DANCE FLOOR AT ANY TIME. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Do not block traffic when getting on the dance floor and starting to dance. Be ready to dance when you get on the dance floor or go the "inner" lane and start from there.
Do not stop or stand on the dance floor at any time. If you have to stop dancing, please make your way off the dance floor without interrupting the other dancers.
If you bump into any other dancers, do not stop dancing but apologize to them (no matter whose fault). Always be a courteous and polite dancer.

OFF the Dance Floor...

It is acceptable to politely decline an offer to dance. As a matter of courtesy, you should be willing to sit out that entire song (not dance with anyone else).
Make way for the folks exiting the dance floor before you get onto the dance floor. Just like in an elevator, you let people off first to make room for the people getting on.
Do not loiter, stand or block traffic on the dance floor. If you are not dancing, no part of your body should be in or on the dance floor space.
Do not hang your body parts, drinks or cigarettes over the railing around the dance floor.

While Dancing...

Leaders:

Look up when you are dancing. Watch where you are going. Looking down at your feet will not help you dance better.

Two-Step, Waltz, Shadow (traveling dances):

Dance around the outside edge of the dance floor. Do not cut through the center of the dance floor when others are dancing there.

Faster moving dancers - dance around the outside most edge of the dance floor (closest to the railing).

Slower moving dancers - leave enough room between you and the railing to allow the faster moving dancers to pass you but stay along the outside of the dance floor (i.e., leaving as much space in the center of the floor open as possible).

Leaders: Pay attention to what is going on around you. Look up when you are dancing and especially when you are "backing-up" or dancing "backwards."

East/West Coast Swing, Cha-cha, Nightclub Two-Step:

Dance in the center space of the dance floor - leave enough room for the slower moving Two-Steppers to pass around you.

Confine your movement and traveling to the space in which you have to work with. Slotted dances styles should be limited to a specific area of the dance floor.

If there is room, you may dance in the corners of the dance floor - be careful of line dancers who are traveling around the floor (some line dances call for traveling across the floor).

Line Dancers:

Line dances will be called out by the DJ and you will have the right of way on the Hoedowns dance floor.

Novice line dancers and those who wish to practice the dance, please use the back rows or corners of the dance floor - do not impede the ability of the other dancers.