Dance Floor Etiquette and Keeping Safe

• If you have any health concerns, always ask your GP first if they are happy for you to take part.  Line dancing does gradually build your stamina and it also helps with balance and memory.

• It is important  to wear suitable footwear.  Please do not wear open sandals, flip flops,  mules, high heels which may be unstable or injure someone dancing close to you, or trainers with rubber soles.  We recommend shoes or boots with either leather or plastic soles which allow you to move on the dance floor.  It is important to take this on board as our insurance will not cover accidents caused by unsuitable footwear.

• When doing “stomp” steps, we advise you to place your heel down first so that you don’t jolt your back with a flat foot stomp.  Do not do high kicks or wild kick ball changes.

• We also advise using small steps. Not only do they look better, but they make dances easier to do and minimise strains of overstretching or twisting. Small steps also stop people bumping into each other.

• If you are prone to dizziness when turning, there are many simplifications we can make to dances so that you do not have to turn as much.  Again speak to your GP before taking part.  You will often see some dancers putting in “turns” when others don’t.  Let us know if you have a problem with dizziness and we can show you ways to avoid turning steps.

Dance Floor Etiquette

Don't cross the dance floor with food, drinks, glasses, cigarettes etc.  If you spill something, clean it up immediately.

Don't walk through a line of dancers to cross the floor.  Always walk around the floor or wait. If you need to leave the floor, try to take the shortest route to the nearest side so that you don't trip anyone else up. Always try to avoid accidents.

If you arrive late or want to start dancing, wait for a dance to finish and join in at the start of the next dance to avoid causing a hazard/distraction for those already dancing.

If you are a beginner, try to dance in the middle of other dancers.  Then, whichever way you turn, you will have somebody to copy.  Try to develop spatial awareness and keep rows and columns neat.

Don't stand on the dance floor to chat.

If you are starting a dance, go to the front so others can get behind you.

Don’t start a different dance of your own unless there is enough room and you sense it is acceptable.

If the floor is crowded, take small steps to avoid collisions.

Dancers around the edge have right of way, so don’t make the rows too wide, form a new row.  Leave the outside lane clear for couples.

Partners should stick to LOD, (anti-clockwise).  Keep to the outside lane and don’t cut corners