Etiquette

    Our regular monthly dances are for fun, so we encourage everyone to wear something comfortable and modest.  Ladies are not required to wear a skirt or  dress, although it is way more fun to dance in a dress or skirt!  If you do wear a dress or skirt, we ask that it falls below the knee.  

     Our Balls are formal events, therefore we ask that everyone dress accordingly.  Below are the guidelines for our formal events.

Ladies: Think pretty!  This can be a formal gown, Sunday best, or pretty dress.  All gowns/dresses should fall below the knee.  Any strapless or spaghetti strap dresses should have an appropriate jacket, shawl or sweater.  You have a very special guy out there who loves you, or is going to love you for who you are inside, we don't have to advertise or cause our brothers to stumble.  Be beautiful from the inside out!

Gentlemen: Think handsome!  You are going to be escorting or dancing with some of the prettiest girls around, so be sharp.  Tuxes, suits, or dress shirts and slacks are acceptable attire.  Ties are a must.  Jackets are not required.  You are a man of honor, so let's show it on the inside and out!

   The goal of these guidelines is not to be legalistic about modesty, but to realize that God has made us as man and woman, and then set guidelines on the appropriate physical interactions between us.  We want to respect each other as creatures of our King, and not cause each other to stumble, or give away something that should be kept for that special person that God has set aside for us.  Thank you for respecting the above guidelines and your fellow man!

Dance Etiquette:

Finding a Partner:  It is proper for a gentleman to ask a lady to dance by simply saying, "May I have this dance?", or, "Would you dance with me?".  Don't stress about the words, just be polite and be sure to offer your right hand to the lady.  Gentlemen: be sure to escort your partner off the dance floor when the dance is complete!

Lady/Lady Couples:  Ladies should be sure to wait until the gentlemen have had the opportunity to find partners before pairing up with another lady.  More than one gentleman has made the comment of how intimidating it is to have the ladies pair up so quickly that they never have a chance to find a partner!  Keep in mind that it is also more difficult to dance many of the dances when there are couples of the same gender, so this is another reason to be sure to pair up as boy/girl sets first.

Which Hand to Use:  Gentlemen should always offer their right hand, and ladies should always accept with their left hand when being escorted on and off the dance floor.
     When dancing, as a general rule, gentlemen should always support a lady by placing his hand underneath her hand.  By the same token, ladies should place their hands on top of the gentleman's hand.  
     Second couples should generally support the first couples by placing their hands underneath the ones' hands, and ones' will place their hands on top of the twos' hands.

Finding Your Place:  When leading your partner onto the dance floor for a longways set, couples should join the line at the bottom.  *On occasion, to aid in the flow of a dance, or to help new couples, the caller may move couples up or down the line based on the known skill level of the dancers.  This is the only time that it is proper to cut in line.  
   The only rule for preparing for a circle dance is to be sure the lady is placed to her partner's right. 

Silence, please!:  With so many good friends together in one place it can be really tough to hold down the chatter when we are doing our walk-throughs, especially if you know the dance already.  However, many times we have new people who are trying their level best to not be overwhelmed when the music starts, so in order to show respect to the newbies and the caller, it is very important to remain quiet during the first walk-through!  Following the first walk-through, time will be given for individual sets to ask questions, review specific trouble steps, ask for assistance, etc., so have some patience at the beginning and everyone will be set for a fun and smooth dancing experience! 

One and Done:  An old rule of etiquette says that to dance with the same partner for 2 dances in a row, shows a marked affection or interest for a particular person.  Following this rule of thumb, it is improper to dance with the same partner twice in a row, unless your are courting, engaged or married to that partner.  So, mix things up and you might even find a new friend!  *Note to married, engaged, or courting couples:  Please keep in mind that this is a social event, as well as the fact that many times partners can be scarce, especially gentlemen, so while you have the liberty to dance multiple dances in a row with your partner, propriety and courtesy would say to be sure and find other partners to dance with as well.

Dance Cards: We typically do not use dance cards for our regular dances, however, they are a nice touch for our formal events.  They are a bit like a program, so one may see how the evening will unfold, a nice momento of the dances or event participated in, and a great way to keep track of your partners.  Seeing the list of dances may also aid in one determining whether to stand up for a particular dance, or take a strategical rest for an upcoming dance.  Dances are usually listed by the type of dance, and then the name of the specific dance, followed by a space to write in ones partner.  Dance types are as follows:

Jigs or Reels - A dance which is usually faster paced, and will be in 6/8 time, meaning there will be two steps per bar of music.  "The Queen's Jig", "Black Nag", and "The Virginia Reel", are examples of Jigs and Reels.

March - These dances may be fast or slow, and are written in 2/4 or 4/4 time, meaning there will be 2 or 4 steps per bar of music.  They tend to have a very marked beat, which can make them a bit easier to dance to.  Examples of marches would be: "Softly Good Tummas" or "Progressive Gordon".

Waltzes - The prettiest of dances, which are often slower, though at times they may have more intricate dance figures.  These dances are written in 3/4 time, therefore steps usually come in sets three per bar of music.  "The Duke of Kent's Waltz", "Farewell Marian", and "Turning By Threes", are just a few of the well known dances from this dance family.

How to Use a Dance Card: Dance Cards are usually carried by the ladies on their wrist, using the small ribbon attached to the card.  Be sure to write your name on your card in the appropriate space given, to be sure you know which card is yours if it manages to part ways with you at some time during the evening. ;-)  When a gentleman wishes to dance with a lady, he should approach her, and ask her to dance.  If she has an opening, he may request a specific dance, or she may suggest a dance that is open on her card.  Once a dance is agreed upon, she should pencil it in to show that she is now engaged for this dance.  A gentleman may request a dance at any time during the evening, so it is not necessary for a lady's card to be filled at the beginning of the evening.  If a lady is not already engaged for the dance at hand, she may stand close to the dance floor to indicate that she would like to dance, and is open for a partner.  It is entirely appropriate for a lady to seek out her partner for the upcoming dance, as the gentlemen do not have the luxury of a card to refer to! 

Happy Dancing!