Introduction

So you decide to go salsa dancing.  Is there any etiquette that you need to follow?  I would say yes as dancing is a very active and sometimes a very intimate social activity.  Salsa etiquette is just a way to make sure that everyone has fun dancing and that people continue to dance with you.

So here are some guidelines that you may want to follow.

Personal Hygiene

As salsa is a close partner dance, it is very important that you are clean and fresh before you hit the dance floor or dance lesson.  There is nothing worse that dancing with a person with bad breath or that smells bad, and believe me it happens many times.  The only thing is that it is not isolated to one person since you will be dancing with many partners.  Imagine the impression you are making!

Don’t wait for someone to mention it, just play it safe by :

• showering, before going dancing especially if you have had a strenuous active day.
• Brushing  and flossing your teeth before going out dancing.
• Always bringing gum or mints to keep you minty fresh.  Might also want to keep away from onions, garlic or other spicy food prior to dancing.
• Using anti-perspirant/perfume/cologne. But don’t overdo it, light smells are better as some people could have allergic reactions.  There is always an instance when someone forgets this and boy does that smell travel when all the moves are happening.
  
• Bringing an extra t-shirt or top to change into in case needed in the night.  Salsa is a very active dance and there is nothing worse than dancing with a person that is just drenching with sweat.  It is expected but do what you can to mitigate this.  It just looks better on you.
• Bringing a hand towel or visiting the toilet regularly to freshen up with water and paper towels.

During Lessons

While taking group lessons the teachers deserve your full undivided attention at all times.  It could be tempting to chat up that cute girl (or guy) but it is disrespectful to both the teacher who is trying to instruct and to the other students who are trying to learn.

Make sure that you are in the right level or else it’s not fair to the rest of the class to have to wait as you ask question after question.  As an alternative you might even consider some private lessons to bring you up to speed.   It is so important that you get the basic steps and foundation down as that’s what will make you a great dancer later on as you learn different moves.

Asking Somebody to Dance

Both men and women can go and ask somebody for a dance.  Just go over, extend your hand and ask politely. If they accept, lead them by hand to the dance floor. If you are turned down, do not be offended, it’s rarely something personal. It could be that they’ve just danced the last five songs and need a break, or it could be that they don’t like the current song, or they’ve saved this song for a particular person, or they just want to have a chat with some friends.

If you are turned down, you shouldn’t usually ask that person again the same night. Once you have asked them, they are free to ask you back should they wish.  That don’t want to force somebody into dancing with you.

If you happen to be at the dance with a friend, partner or significant other, then it’s quite nice to approach another couple and ask them to dance in parallel. That is, he asks her and she asks him for a dance at the same time. This means nobody is left alone by themselves for the next song.

If the person you want to dance with is in a conversation, try not to interrupt.  Either try again later or if you can get eye-contact, extend your hand with something like, “is this a bad time to ask for a dance?” or, “may we?”.  Make sure you acknowledge the person they are talking to, perhaps with a promise to bring him/her back soon.

Being Asked to Dance

In general, you should try and dance with anybody who asks you.  Even if you are a beginner, don’t be afraid.  Just be honest as people will understand as everyone has been there at one time.

If you simply do not feel like dancing at that particular time, for example if you’re tired, you want to chat to your friends, or go to the toilet, then politely decline.  If you would like to dance later, then tell him/her, or ask them later yourself.

If the reason is something that can be fixed, for example if his lead was too rough last time, then you might want to tell him this before accepting.  This is touchy but if you say it with the right tone, most will understand.

Dancing Close

Although the Latin Americans tend to dance very close, it’s up to you on how close you want to dance with another person that you are not familiar with but make sure they reciprocate. You have to use your judgement here based on your partners willingness or resistance to being close. Don’t push it any further than your partner is comfortable with.  I have seen some dancers just grope women during Salsa dancing and then they wonder why that girl won’t dance with them again.

Flirting

Most girls dance salsa for fun, not to pick up guys.

So if you are a guy and the girl is dancing close or styling in a very sexy way, this does not necessarily mean she’s interested in a romantic way.

More likely she is just having fun and expressing herself and making the dance look good.  Go out and have been and as you get to know the person more then things will just flow naturally if there is mutual attraction.

Bumping Into Others

Dance floors are often overcrowded and at some point you are going to bump into somebody or step on their feet. If this happens, apologize.  If somebody bumps into you, apologize even if you think it was their fault. If it keeps happening, try to find a different spot.

Adjust your moves to the space available.  If there isn’t much space then stick to moves that are tighter, otherwise you will keep bumping into everyone around you.

If you are in a place where waiters/waitresses are moving around, then always give them space to pass you even if it means stopping your dance. They are there to work and it’s hard enough without dancers spinning around them at speed.

Out Dancing

If you are a stronger dancer than your partner, then out dancing them is frowned upon and does not look good. This applies to both male and females. There is no need to demonstrate to people that you are better than your partner. Anybody watching will know the real situation.  Remember as a guy, your job is to make the woman look good no matter what level of dancing she may be at.

Even worse than out dancing your partner is pulling faces of disgust to people watching. Just be patient finish the dance and have fun.

Remember that there are always better dancers than you out there, so would you like to be treated like that?

Teaching on the Dance Floor

During social dancing that doesn’t follow a lesson, you shouldn’t correct or teach your partner unless clearly requested.  If your partner leads or follows a move incorrectly, it is not an invitation to teach them.  Instead, if you’re the guy, try simpler patterns. If you’re the girl, just follow the best you can.  How good you are is determined by how you can adapt to any dancer at any level.

Line of Dance

When dancing on a busy dance floor look for the line of dance; that is, the general direction and orientation of dance.  For LA cross body style, people will generally be dancing parallel to one of the walls.

Illness

If you’re sick, you should stay at home. Nobody will appreciate you for giving them a cold or flu.

After the Dance

Smile, thank your partner and lead them off the dance floor.

At the end of it all, salsa is about having fun, great exercise, and bringing people together no matter what part of the world you may be in.  So get out and dance!!!