{"id":5683,"date":"2021-12-29T16:30:33","date_gmt":"2021-12-29T08:30:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flowtaipei.com\/?p=5683"},"modified":"2023-02-11T01:37:20","modified_gmt":"2023-02-10T17:37:20","slug":"six-easy-ways-to-be-a-better-social-dancer-with-the-dance-skills-you-already-have","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flowtaipei.com\/en\/six-easy-ways-to-be-a-better-social-dancer-with-the-dance-skills-you-already-have\/","title":{"rendered":"Six Easy Ways to Be A Better Social Dancer with the Dance Skills You Already Have"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether we dance salsa, bachata, zouk, or any other social dance, when we go to a party, we want others to enjoy dancing with us as much as we enjoy dancing with them, right?\u00a0 We want people to ask us to dance and accept our invitations willingly. Newer dancers often think that dance skill is the most important reason that people like to dance with each other.\u00a0 Not so!\u00a0 There are many factors that influence how dancers feel towards each other.\u00a0 Dance skill\/experience is just one factor, and to develop that takes a lot of time and effort- going to classes, training alone and with partners, going to social parties and dancing a lot, etc.\u00a0 But there are other aspects of yourself that can improve (or worsen) the impression you make on other people in classes and parties.<\/p>\n

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  1. Practice good hygiene.\u00a0 So important.\u00a0 Smelling good and not being soaked in sweat goes a long way in making a good impression!\u00a0 Even if you are an awesome dancer, if you smell bad or your shirt is soaked through to your skin, many people will feel uncomfortable dancing with you.\u00a0 Before you go to dance, take a shower, change your clothes, and brush your teeth if possible.\u00a0 If that\u2019s not possible, you can at least wear a clean shirt, wash your hands, check your teeth, and take some breath mints.\u00a0 And when you go to the bathroom, WASH YOUR HANDS WELL- as in, actually use soap!\u00a0 This should be a given, but I\u2019ve seen enough to know otherwise.\u00a0 Does anyone want to dance sensual bachata or Brazilian zouk with someone who does not wash their hands?\u00a0 On the contrary, clean and dry hands will be noticed and appreciated.<\/li>\n
  2. Be courteous and undramatic.\u00a0 If you want to dance with someone, ask them politely and wait for them to respond- don\u2019t just assume that they will accept. If they say no or anything that sounds like they don\u2019t really want to dance, just accept that with a smile and find someone else to ask.\u00a0 When the dance is over, thank them genuinely, but without holding onto them and preventing them from dancing with someone else.\u00a0 People appreciate being respected, and they are more likely to dance with you happily if your approach is relaxed and doesn\u2019t make them feel pressured.<\/li>\n
  3. Don\u2019t talk when you dance.\u00a0 To me, one of the best parts of dancing is that we can communicate so much without talking.\u00a0 Very few people want to get to know you or tell you about themselves or talk about anything when they dance- they want to focus on dancing! \u00a0 If you can help to create enjoyable dance experiences with people, they will generally be more open to becoming more acquainted with you later, at a more appropriate time.<\/li>\n
  4. Pay attention to your partner and be present in the moment.\u00a0 Make eye contact periodically (not all the time)\u00a0 and smile ,and don\u2019t look around the room like you are thinking about something else or watching other people.\u00a0 It\u2019s much more enjoyable to dance with someone who looks like they appreciate you being with them than with someone who seems to be in their own world.\u00a0 Another part of this is watching the crowd around you to help keep your partner and yourself safe.\u00a0 If you are the leader, keep an eye on who is around you and what they are doing so you don\u2019t run your partner into another couple.\u00a0 If you are the follower and you see your leader about to run into someone, you can give him a look or tug on his hand to let him know that someone is in the way.<\/li>\n
  5. Respect the organizers\/venue and follow social norms. If you are going to a paid event, go pay right away- don\u2019t make someone chase you down.\u00a0 Don\u2019t complain and bring negative energy\u00a0 Don\u2019t do things that you know you aren\u2019t supposed to do just because you think you won\u2019t get caught.\u00a0 Clean up after yourself and don\u2019t leave your stuff in the way of other people.\u00a0 People will notice your behavior even if they don\u2019t say anything.\u00a0 Basically, just be a decent person and treat the people around you with respect regardless of whether you need something from them now.<\/li>\n
  6. Continue to improve yourself.\u00a0 When you are brand new, you may think that nobody wants to dance with a beginner, but it\u2019s not true.\u00a0 Many (but not all) experienced dancers enjoy dancing with beginners at least once in awhile because many of us like to see new people joining the scene and discovering dance.\u00a0 We love to see people start as beginners and grow over time into more capable dancers.\u00a0 What tends to turn people off is when someone gets to a very basic level and then stays there, sometimes for years or even decades, without trying to learn anything new.\u00a0 We go to dance parties to have fun, and not everyone has time to go to regular classes, but if you go to parties often, do your best to make time to continue learning. This doesn\u2019t mean you have to become an amazing dancer quickly- even if your progress is slow, your continued effort will be felt and will make a better impression. People will tend to appreciate and encourage you if they see that you are working on improving yourself to make dances more enjoyable for your partners!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    As you can see, there are many soft skills involved in social dancing.\u00a0 Learning and experience is important, but being clean and treating people with courtesy and respect goes a long way.\u00a0 So remember these things while you are working hard to learn and become a better dancer- your dance scene will be a better place, and people will be happier to dance with you!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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