Dance Class Etiquette

Music pumps from the speakers. The rhythm beats through your veins. Excitement escalates around you. You know the dance steps. You're ready to move. You're ready to shine. You're ready to dance. Then the instructor yells, "Spit out your gum!"

Nothing ruins dance class more than interruptions. You lose your concentration. The momentum dies down. The instructor might even stop the music to reprimand a dancer that did not follow a simple etiquette rule.

Each dance class has its own set of rules, but there are some dance etiquette rules that apply to every class, whether it's ballet, jazz, modern, tap, hip-hop, ballroom, or any other dance class. If you take or are planning to take a dance class, follow these six simple dance etiquette rules to make your dance class fun and interruption free.

Be early . Being on time for dance class is not enough for two reasons. First, you need time to change into your dance clothes. If you come to class already in your dance clothes, you still need to change out of your street shoes and into your dance shoes, put away your things, and maybe go to the bathroom.

Second, you need time to warm up. Some instructors use part of the class time for warm-up exercises and stretches, but some don't. Either way, you can never go wrong with being warmed up. Cold muscles are a fast way to an injury because they strain and tear easier. If the instructor does not tell you how early he or she wants you to be, come at least 15 minutes before class officially begins. That will give you enough time to change and warm-up.

Dress right . There are different attires for different dance classes. Some instructors are very specific with the attire, while some are more flexible. The first rule with dressing right is to obey your instructor. Wear what the instructor tells you to wear. There are also some general rules about dance class attire.

Do not wear jeans, no matter how stretchy you think they are. They will still limit your mobility. On that note, don't wear anything that will stop you from dancing your best, like nice clothes you wouldn't want to get dirty, dresses and skirts, and socks that will make you slip on the floor.

Baggy clothes will also limit your mobility, so don't wear clothes that sag from your body or are too big on you. Baggy clothes also hide your body, which prevents your instructor from seeing your posture, body lines, and dance moves. If your instructor can't see how your body moves, he or she can't teach you to the best of his or her ability. In turn, you're not getting your money's worth.

The right dance shoes are a must because it will help your dancing. Don't wear your street shoes onto the dance floor since they track dirt and mud. Remove big jewelry because they can get yanked off your body. Ouch! You can even remove all jewelry so they won't get scratched up while you're dancing. Your hair should be neat and away from your face. Be aware of the weather too. Leg warmers and light sweaters can keep you and your muscles nice and warm during the colder seasons.

Turn off cell phones . Just like in any other class, cell phones are huge interruptions when they ring. They distract the flow of the class and the focus of the dancers. Turn off your cell phone or put it on vibrate.

No gum. Many dance instructors' pet peeves include gum chewing. It's really for your safety. It is very easy to choke on gum in dance class because you're moving so much. Keep yourself safe and the instructor happy. Spit out your gum before class starts.

Dance in the space . A painful and embarrassing moment in dance class is when you collide with another dancer. You can avoid collisions by dancing in the space. This simply means you dance where there is space to dance. You don't get to claim your "spot" on the dance floor unless the instructor says so (like in choreographed dances). You have to share the dance floor with everyone else. Be aware of the dancers around you and the space available. This space changes all the time. Just find it and dance in it.

Pay attention . It is very important to pay attention because you could miss a lot if you don't. You could miss a new dance step, the next set of instructions, or your turn on the dance floor. Part of paying attention means not sitting down off to the side. Many dance instructors would say, "You never get to sit down in dance." If you're off to the side waiting your turn, you can stretch your muscles, practice the dance step, or watch the other dancers and learn from them. Another part of paying attention is participation. You have to dance in dance class. You have to participate in order to learn. Dance is one of those things you can't learn by reading a book. You have to get up and do it.

So get up and dance! Dance class can be a very worthwhile experience. Just remember to come to class early, dress right, turn off your cell phone, spit out your gum, dance in the space available, and pay attention. Before you know it, you are learning a lot of new things while you're exercising and having fun all at the same time.