Square Dancing ~ Square-Up Etiquette

Would you deliberately hurt a friend? Everyone in a normal state of mind would immediately answer – NO, of course not. Society makes allowances for persons in a state of pain. Physical pain is better understood than emotional or mental or spiritual pain. However, you can hurt a friend if you are not considerate of their being.

Etiquette is a set of rules, guidelines and recommendations for the correct or desirable mode of behaviour. If you follow these directives you should avoid hurting your friend inadvertently. If you have ever seen modern square dancing demonstrations or you read this column regularly, you will have noticed that square dancers have pride in being friendly, courteous and honest on and off the dance floor.

Our motto is Friendship set to Music. Naturally, we have etiquette for behaviour during a dance. Here are some pointers:

• Arrive early! You will need to sign in and have time to greet those you know and make a new friend.
  
  
• Wear appropriate attire. Usually ladies prefer to wear bouncy skirts (except in frigid weather!) and men wear long sleeved shirts. Soft-soled shoes with low heels are required for dancing. Some dance halls require you to carry in clean shoes to protect their wood floors.
  
  
• Wear a name badge. They help refresh the memory. It is a compliment to remember a person’s name. If a 'stranger', introduce yourself- remember ‘a stranger is a friend you have yet to meet!’
  
  
• Join the nearest incomplete square. When you bypass a forming square you are rejecting the friendship of those in it. It leads to the formation of cliques and can stop strangers from meeting and dancing with you.
  
  
• Walk around squares. To walk through a square is disruptive and impolite, can lead to collisions and is inconsiderate of those in the square.
  
  
• Stay in your forming square. To leave a square that is forming gives the message that you do not wish to dance with those already there.
  
  
• Remember your corner. She/he is the next most important person in the square after your partner!
  
  
• Remember your role. Are you Heads or Sides when you square up?
  
  
• Smile ~ you are among friends. If you're wearing a frown, the other 7 people in the square may think you're angry with them! Remember the Square Dance Motto! Friendship set to Music
  
  
• Forgive ‘goofs’. We all get our turn and yours may be next! When it happens to you, release your anger immediately and smile.
  
  
• Stay put in your square! ! ! To leave in the middle of a Tip is the cardinal sin of square dancing. Only walk out, if you're not well. Ask for help & let others help you. Remember the caller is there to help if need be! When you walk out of a square seven people lose their dance!
  
  
• Square Dancing is fun. It is not a competition. -- Don't speed through the Calls or perform time-consuming styling. Some actions can be dangerous to others around you (e.g.: high kicks)
  
  
• Be gentle. Ladies especially appreciate tenderness, but not so gentle that you become a limp fish. Roughness is inconsiderate. Be very careful with handholds. Palm-to-Palm is best. Watch out for Do not Swing labels, plaster casts and bandages.
  
  
• Attend all teaching sessions. When you miss two consecutive sessions most people have difficulty catching up. Worse still you may be causing the square to break down and be holding back the rest of the group.
  
  
• Attend Dances designed for your level. The more you dance, the better you will be. Practice makes perfect! When you go to dance at other clubs you get the opportunity to hear another caller and make some new friends. What a deal! But be aware of the level you can dance at. Do not dance at higher levels until you have had lessons. Be very comfortable with your dancing before you go to the next level. If you rush it, you will frustrate yourself and the others in your square. This is inconsiderate.
  
  
• Listen to the Caller!! Even if you think you know what he's going to say, someone else in the square may not. Wait and Listen. After the tip, applaud the caller & thank your fellow dancers.