Floorcraft: What is it & why is it so important?
Floorcraft refers to where and how dancers move on the dance floor. Good floorcraft is the basis of polite social dancing and helps to make everyone feel comfortable and welcome. It is the ability to politely share space and navigate a busy dance floor effectively, elegantly and with consideration for others. It is both a technical skill and a social skill. These skills take time to develop - we do not expect you to be an ‘expert’ straight away. Everyone is at different stages of learning, so please be patient and polite with each other as you learn and improve. However, if you are a demonstrably polite and considerate human being, you’re already halfway there!
Good floorcraft is the responsibility of ALL dancers—leaders, followers, and even those watching nearby. Leaders guide the movement and direction of the dance; followers respond to these cues, and both dancers work together to create a flowing and enjoyable dance. All roles are important and require attention to what is happening around you. By respectfully using space, adjusting your steps as needed, and anticipating the movements of other dancers, everyone helps make the dance floor a welcoming place.
Learning the technical side of floorcraft skills is like learning to drive a car. It takes time to learn the practical and theoretical skills for steering, braking, gear changing, planning and navigation, hazard perception, defensive driving, and adherence to traffic laws! Not to mention remaining calm, clear-headed, and acknowledging that you will have blind spots that need care and attention. Learning the skills to dance elegantly and politely on a social dance floor is very similar! For example, a crowded dancefloor would require smaller movements to prevent collisions, and if someone ahead of you pauses unexpectedly, you would need to slow down or gently change direction (if possible) to maintain the flow of dancers in the room without causing disruption. The most important thing while learning and practising these technical skills is to remain calm and friendly.
We teach floorcraft and etiquette skills in all of our dance classes, and attending our Tea Dances provides an excellent opportunity to practise your floorcraft skills in a supportive setting. Here are some guidelines to help you:
The dance floor is for dancing only: Please respect dancers by leaving the dance floor if you are not dancing. Designated seating areas are for chatting with friends and for refreshments.
Dance safely: Aerial steps, trick steps, wild arm actions or kicks are not permitted on a social dance floor.
Protect the dance floor: Please wear clean shoes with heel protectors as necessary. Please do not add talc or any other substance to the dance floor to make it more slippery (fast) or less slippery (slow). If required, these additives can be added to the soles of your dance shoes, but not the dance floor itself.
Joining the dance floor: Always escort your partner onto and off the dance floor. Join the dance floor from the outer edges, instead of crossing the dance floor. If you join the dance floor partway through a song, please be polite to the dancers already on the dance floor: please wait at the side of the dance floor for an adequate space to join, and, before joining, try to catch the eye of the dancer closest to you for a quick nod of assent to allow you to join the line of dance in front of them.
Direction of traffic on the dance floor: In all travelling dances (all of the Ballroom dances, plus Samba, Paso Doble, and Ballroomin’ Blues), the direction of flow on the dance floor is anti-clockwise - similar to a public ice rink where you all travel in one direction only to avoid collisions. This direction is called the ‘line of dance’. Dancers should not cross the centre line of the room, and they should also dance up towards a corner before dancing along the next wall.
Sharing the dance floor: Please be polite in your use of space at all times. For instance, if you are dancing on a small dance floor, it would be rude to claim most of it for yourself - keep your steps small to allow others the space to dance too. Also, you may be at an event where many different dance styles and genres are in play, so it is crucial to share the dance floor politely. If your dance style is danced mainly on the spot, please move towards the centre of the dance floor; if it travels down the line of dance, please use the outer areas to travel around the dance floor and do not direct your steps at another dance couple.
A busy dance floor: If your area of the dance floor is busy, please remember to tuck your elbows into your sides or lower your frame completely – sharp elbows can hurt other dancers! If space is tight, gently pause and sway on the spot. Never directly aim your steps at another dance couple, or assume that they will have moved by the time you get there.
Combinations and routines: It is common to learn short combinations when you first learn to dance. In our dance classes, we also teach effective partnering skills to encourage you to dance with clarity, consideration and polite floorcraft. With this in mind, never attempt to finish a combination if it could cause a collision or encroach on someone else's personal space. One of those careless dancers who believes, "I've got a routine and I'm sticking with it no matter what!" is not someone you want to be… The art of social dancing requires much more than just following a routine.
Dancing with others: You might dance with people of varying skill levels and experience. So, how do you know which steps to dance together if you’ve never danced with them before? Keep in mind that a well-practised basic or two (or even just swaying on the spot!) when danced with consideration and care for your dance partner, will always feel far lovelier than a million higgledy-piggledy steps! Both dancers must try their best to be in tune with each other, mindful and attentive. If you feel in tune with each other, you can gently test the waters by trying out some basic figures first, building up as you go and seeing what happens! Remember to respect your partner's personal space and limitations, and never force your partner into a step or move, especially if it could be too much for them or compromise their balance.
Experienced dancers versus less experienced dancers: It is the responsibility of more experienced dancers to give way to, or make space for, less experienced dancers. Those with more experience can use intricate figures to dance on the spot or politely overtake as necessary. If you are an experienced dancer, dancing in close proximity to less experienced dancers, the less experienced dancers could become overwhelmed or mistake your behaviour for rudeness. You may have given them enough room if they’re experienced dancers accustomed to managing space, but remember that they’re still getting used to dancing and floorcraft, so please give them a little more room. In time, they will become more experienced and hopefully show new dancers the courtesy that you have shown to them.
Less experienced dancers: if you are a less experienced (or even an overly polite dancer), you may tend to quickly run out of the way of more experienced dancers if you see them coming – but you have just as much right to be on the dance floor as they do! Experienced dancers will know steps and floorcraft techniques to politely dance around or safely overtake you if they need to, and if they don’t, it’s a good learning exercise for them! Please don’t jump out of their way – stand firm and dance.
Taking a backward step: It is important to recognise that you will have blind spots as you take a backward step when dancing as a Leader. As a result, it is crucial that the Follower actively participate in overseeing direction and space. They must let the Leader know if they are unable to move into a space. It is also very important for both Leader and Follower to carefully slide their foot into position when taking a backward step, and only committing to that step when they feel the coast is clear.
Dancing at speed: Some music is significantly faster than others. For example, the Jive and Quickstep are much faster than the Waltz or Rumba. If you or your dance partner is inexperienced or not feeling at your best, maintain your balance by keeping your steps smaller when dancing to quick music. Maintaining good balance will enable you to move together as a couple, making it easier to slow down, brake, or use evasive techniques as required.
Overtaking: In the Ballroom and travelling Latin dances, it is possible to overtake dancers on the dance floor. However, this must be done politely by allowing adequate space. With regard to corners: if dancers are already in the corner, avoid dancing across the corner to overtake them, as you may cut them off - wait in line behind them.
Corners: It is a good idea to start thinking about the upcoming corner as you reach the halfway point along the wall. Doing so will help you to have time to prepare and adjust your steps as necessary. It is courteous to wait behind a couple if you are following them into a corner.
Collisions: The dance floor can be busy at times, and accidental collisions can occur occasionally. If a collision does happen, please do not ignore it – regardless of how gentle it was or whose fault it was - show that you care by acknowledging it and politely asking if the other dance couple is alright. Offer to escort the other couple back to their seat and seek help if necessary.
Encouragement: Please encourage one another and help make our dance community a warm, inclusive space for all. The simple act of making eye contact with nearby dancers, smiling or sharing experiences all help to signal awareness and can do wonders for making the dance floor a friendly place to be!
And last but not least… try not to look grumpy: Partner dancing demands a lot of focus and concentration at times, which can translate to some hilariously serious or grumpy-looking facial expressions! However, this can affect your movements and be off-putting to others, so please remember that you are at a public event and have a social responsibility to contribute to the community's well-being. You may not realise how awfully grumpy you look, so try to soften your frown now and again (and maybe even smile!) to help put other dancers and your dance partner at ease.
For extra reading: Please see Anthony Hurley’s thoughts on floorcraft here: Floorcraft: Has it become a lost art in the competitive world?
Thank you for your interest in creating a friendly dance floor, and keep working hard on those floorcraft skills!
With best wishes and Happy Dancing,
Emma
