• Beginner-Friendly - Health & Safety - Social Dancing

    The Floorcraft Checklist

    November 7, 2016 - By 

    Floorcraft: the dance equivalent of driving. Most people are reasonable drivers – but sometimes you get the truck driver who decides doing a U-turn through a red light on a 6-lane road is a great idea (true story). Or, you could be a completely naive country girl driving for the first time in a big city that accidentally drives the wrong way into the underground streetcars-only lane (It was poorly marked, looked like a normal left turn, and this story is definitely not about me.) Floorcraft is the same. On any given floor, you have people who are: Good at it (normal, experienced people),…

  • Beginner-Friendly - Etiquette - Social Dancing

    “Common-Sense” Dance Etiquette

    September 30, 2016 - By 

    For most experienced dancers, there are a few things that are known to be ‘common sense’ courtesy. I’m not talking about complex etiquette systems found in some dances (ex: the Cabeco in Tango), but rather things that are the base of general social dance etiquette. Despite the fact that these items are common sense, they’re frequently underappreciated by newcomers to the scene. Or, on occasion, social dancers who aren’t fortunate enough to be educated by their peers. Today, we’re laying out the bare-bones etiquette every social dancer – experienced or new – should know before hitting the dance floor. 1. Shower…

  • Following - Health & Safety - Leading - Social Dancing

    Who is Responsible for Floorcraft?

    December 24, 2015 - By 

    Floorcraft: being aware of your surroundings while dancing to maintain safety and comfort for you, your partner, and couples around you. It can include watching for potential collisions, respecting the flow, direction, or slot on the floor, and troubleshooting out of dangerous situations. The general rule preached in many dance communities is that it is the lead’s job to watch the floor during a dance. I would argue that it is actually a shared responsibility: the follow has a great deal of control in managing floorcraft, as does the lead.