Single or partnered as you arrive to dance - yes! Lots of people are partnered off the dance floor, but their partners do not share the love of dance. This is fine - come alone, or come with a dance partner.

Do not assume. If you believe a dancer arrived with someone or that they are part of a couple because you have seen them dance only or often with another person, do not assume anything. Many dancers have someone special outside, but that person is not in the dance hall. Do not assume anything.

All dance levels - yes! Swing Time lessons and dances are meant to be great equalizers. Brand new dancers all the way to experts are welcome on the dance floor. If you are more advanced than someone you are practicing with or dancing with, please model good etiquette by enjoying the dance skill offered. Do not correct on the dancefloor. Do not offer criticism unless requested. 

Dance is social. Please keep sexual politics off the floor. If you are interested in dating someone you meet, please ask them politely and discreetly if they would be interested in spending more time with you off the dance floor. If they decline, no means no. We don’t want anyone feeling pressured to date when they just want to dance.

Gender, schmender. Ballroom, swing, country and Latin dance generally require roles on the dance floor. We will call out instructions for Leads and for Follows - not for men and women. Feel free to dance either part - or to switch around. A general recommendation for switching is wait until you are beyond beginner to do this - it is challenging!

Dance, done with respect for one’s abilities and limits, can be good for body, mind and spirit.

If you are coughing or sneezing, fevering or suspect you have been exposed to something communicable within the several days prior to class or dance, please stay home. 

Use the best body mechanics to protect your body on the dance floor. For example, do not extend your arm out fully at elbow and shoulder as these positions make injury likely. Your instructors will make body mechanics suggestions.

Dance can be quite aerobic. Please monitor and manage your own exertion. If you need to, PLEASE sit down rather than finish dancing to a song. Similarly, say no thank you to offers to dance in order to catch your breath or manage how much energy you put out.

Avoid injuries with the help of these tips: 

Maintain control of your own body at all times. For example, if your dance partner tries to pull or push you somewhere you don’t want to go, tell them with your body or your words. 

If you feel in danger on the dance floor, tell your dance partner.

Dance in supportive footwear. Closed shoes are recommended to partially protect feet should your partner bump into them or step on them. 

Look ahead, not down. It is a nearly universal instinct to look down at our feet as we are learning a new dance. Students may fear stepping on their partner’s feet. 

If you have safety needs that your partner might not know, please tell them. For example, if you have a frozen shoulder and are dancing Follow, please tell your Leads “I do not turn under my right arm.” 

In class, you will be invited to rotate to the next partner. Dancing with multiple partners will strengthen your dance skills, including sense of rhythm, footwork, and lead & follow technique.

You are NEVER obligated to change partners. Please do what makes you most comfortable.

At a dance, or at warm-up/practice times, it is common for dancers to ask one another to dance. Genders don’t matter. If it helps, you may offer, “May I lead you on the dance floor?” or “Would you lead me on the dance floor?” 

Whenever possible, please ask others to dance if they appear shy but wanting to dance.

When it’s comfortable, please accept offers to dance so that your dance suitor feels accepted.

Description Swing Time classes and dances are about fun. We are not in the business of training competitive dancers. We prioritize having fun over “being perfect.”goes here

DescriptionFind the beat. Keep the beat. 

Lead your Follow gently onto the dancefloor.

Keep your Follow safe on the dance floor. Steer them away from incoming traffic. Pull them back rather than allow them to be bumped. Comply with any body mechanics requests.

Offer moves, do not order them. For example, if you’d like your Follow to do an inside turn, signal that move in advance. If they don’t read the signal, do not force the move. You may offer that lead again. If your Follow remains unresponsive to that suggestion, perhaps ask them if they knew that you were signaling an inside turn? 

Do not criticize your Follow. Trust that more classes and time on the dance floor will increase their dance skill.

Model fun: Relax, enjoy the music, enjoy the Lead-Follow play goes here

DesAttempt to feel the beat as the Lead does in order to enable moves to work. If you find the beat difficult to find, suggest to the Lead that you start over.. 

Accept the Lead’s invitations for turns and tricks when they are comfortable for you.  

Trust the Lead to keep you safe on the dance floor. If they stop your movement, it is probably to keep you safe.

Make any body mechanics requests or limitations known. Don’t let the lead force you into movements that are uncomfortable or hurt..

Do not criticize the Lead. Accept what they have to offer and trust that classes and more floor time will increase their dance skills.

Model fun: Relax, enjoy the music, enjoy the Lead-Follow playcription goes here