Swing Dance Swing
** Since 2005! **



Dance Tips



Random Dance Tips by Myrna Caceres



These are general tips which dancers usually get acquainted with after being in the

social dance scene so they are intended more for those who are just starting out but

may serve as reminders for advanced dancers :)


As a Health & Safety Instructor, also included are Dance Safety Tips!


(Page may be shared. Contexts may not be reproduced without permission & credit.

These guidelines were created from years of personal experience as a teacher & dancer.)



Dancing shoes



Personally I love wearing jazz sneakers! My feet has thanked me many times when it was stepped on, lol. Dance shoes such as those with suede bottoms are great as well

for social dancing.


The best shoes for social dancing should have a nice glide for

spins & helps you travel around

the dance floor

(mostly wood floors) with ease.



Advanced Dancer



If your an advanced dancer, it's always great to lead steps steps according to your

partner's dance level.


It can be pretty overwhelming and unpleasant for them if you throw in

steps they are not ready for.

Instead let's help each other grow as dancers :-)



Dance Clothes



Whether your going to class wearing casual or dress to impress :) always wear clothes that fits comfortable.


Nothing loose that you have
to keep adjusting or tight that you
can't even walk in them -) ​



Class Sessions



If you are attending dance classes that have sessions (ex.: 4 or 8 weeks per cycle), please join no later then the second week unless you have permission from the instructor.

This especially applies to

New Dancers.

Otherwise those who are already in session will be placed in a disadvantage by having to spend some time reviewing what you already missed.


If you still would like to join a class already in progress, Private Lessons are a great way to catch up!



Shoes not to wear



Shoes that can slip off easily like

slippers are a dancer's don't.


For swing, I definitely do not recommend heels. There are a lot of jumps in swings which the feet need to properly land on the floor to avoid injuries which is better achieved without heels.

Also with heels, you run the risk of seriously injuring other dancers

on the dance floor.


If you decide to use heels (such as for salsa or hustle) please be extra careful of others near you.

Injuries by heels has caused injuries to others bad enough to keep those injured off the dance floor recovering from weeks to months.


Please: No Heels

while Swing Dancing!



Please Leads & Follows:
Take care of each other on the dance floor



Try to dance in less crowded areas. When you see a dancer too close

to your partner:


Leads: lead your partner to a safer spot. Follows: you can give your lead a small signal on their back or hands to move forward to avoid hitting the nearby dancer.



Please,
no baby powder on
dance floors



Never take it upon yourself to place baby powder on the dance floor, including outdoors!


1) Some people are allergic to the dust it leaves behind in the air.


2) May create a slippery floor which someone can fall & get injured.


3) It can damage very expensive flooring. Instead, please invest in

proper dance shoes.


4) Talcum powder is Toxic

for your lungs! ​



Please watch for people
traffic before
styling arm moves!



For example:

In hustle dancing, when others are near you, extending your arms up is safe or keeping them by your side.


Many have been injured by dancers extending arms straight ot to their side (or by careless flying arms in any dance genre) unexpectedly injuring someone nearby dancing, standing or sitting. Another example is over-styling on a crowded dance floor.


Some known injuries were bad enough to require hospital care.


Please help keep the dance floor safe for all including yourself!



Fun times at MidSummer Night Swing!





Hand cream
before dancing



Using hand cream before dancing is not a good idea before dancing.

Your hands will be slippery therefore you hands may slip from your partner's hands


If medically needed, wipe off access with a tissue until your hands

are not slippery.



people traffic



Please Watch For All People Traffic ON and OFF The Dance Floor!


For dancing to be fun, we need to keep it Safe For Everyone!


Watch for others the same way you do as if you were driving a car. Only takes a second to cause injury & same to help prevent one!



Shoes/shirt changes



When attending dance events
outside of dance studios such as
those located in restaurants, please
find a suitable place to change your shoes to be respectful to those who
are dining & to the establishment.

Also, if you need to change your shirt, please do so in the restroom
.
Let's demonstrate that we
dancers have class :)




Show kindness to
your dance partner



Please be kind to your partner.

Do not squeeze your partner's hands, or (for leads) press your nails while holding your partners back, ouch.


Hold your hands flat against your follows back and while holding hands have a nice hold which is comfortable yet flexible for turns.



Proper hygeine



Your dance partners will

thank you for good hygiene :)


One example: Not eating breath smelly food such as garlic before going out dancing.


Another: It's not fun for those who are allergic to smoking to dance with someone who just smoked. If you need to smoke please do so at least 1hr. before partner dancing or better yet.. quit, for your own health and all around you :)

One more: If you sweat a lot, it's good to carry extra t-shirts for wardrobe change. I know many who do.If your going from work to dance, always good to carry an extra shirt along with your dance shoes to change. I always do :)

Ok, another one, lol: Deodorant is your best friend, stinky is not.

Was requested to add one more:

Please bathe & wear clean clothes daily. This is a touchy subject nobody likes to address but needs to be. Nobody likes to dance with someone who has foul odor especially fearing that odor may stick on to themselves.


These are very unpleasant & dancing should be nothing but pleasant :-)



Hand washing



Please wash your hands

after using the rest room.


This applies to all dancers.

You can risk other people's health (including your own) if you don't.


Everyone will appreciate it. ​



gum chewing



Gum Chewing is a No in Dancing


1) While dancing is a choking hazard.


2) While partner dancing it's not pleasant for your dance partner.


* Please, do not chew gum

while dancing.



Finger nail
maintenance



Please keep your nails filed for safety reason in order to help

avoid injury, especially during turns.


I carry a nail file in case a nail get's chipped before dancing.

This is for leads as well as follows.


The shorter nails are, the safer they are for Partner Dancing!



Hustle Disco Dance Goodness!





Dance studio mirrors



Please avoid leaning or placing

your hands on mirrors

in dance studios.


Not pleasant to look

at prints left on them and also

can cause damage to them which

are expensive to replace.



Music Volume



Dance Teachers & DJ's,

Please play music at a safe volume.


If we cannot comfortably hear

the person next to us, it is too loud.


Loud music can cause hearing loss & tinnitus (permanent ringing in the ears). When music is too loud, it also becomes muffled noise.


Dancers, when the music is too loud, you have the right to politely request the DJ and/or DanceTeacher to

Please Lower The Music.


Many dancers carry with them

hearing plugs since this is an ongoing issue at social dance events.


More details on Safety Noise Levels

at the following link:

Make Listening Safe



Which Dance Level
should you take



When taking dance classes, your instructor is your best resource

to tell you if your ready to

move up to the next level

so don't feel shy to ask :)


If you move up too soon it will delay your progress as well as become a disadvantage to those who really

belong in that level.

Can also become a safety issue.



Cellphones



Please Do Not use

your cellphone during dance class.


If you need to answer a

call/text, please use

your cellphone

outside of the classroom.


At events,

please do not answer your

cellphone while

dancing with someone.

It lacks respect for your dance partner.


While on the cellphone subject:

Please DO NOT Text & Drive!



Hospital scrubs & uniforms



Hospital Scrubs & Uniforms are meant to be used only in the hospital/clinics

for sanitary & health safety purposes.


Please Do Not wear Hospital Scrubs and Uniforms to

dance classes or events.



under the weather



If You Are Sick, Please

Stay Home or seek medical care if needed.


We will miss you at dance class or events but Do Not want you to "share the joy."


We will really appreciate your effort

in not getting anyone else sick.



before dancing with
another dancer



At Dance Events:

Please always finish the song

withone partner before moving

on to the next.


Unless of course you are passing your partner to another person or your

partner is stolen by another

dancer in good fun. :-)



Special class offers on
discount sites



Trying new dance classes via specials offered by dance schools on discount sites are intended for 1st time dancers

to the school to help bring

in new clientele.


Dance schools has many expenses

to cover including overhead,

website and teachers.


Instructors also has many expenses including their own trainings to help provide their students the best classes possible and should be compensated accordingly for the services provided!


It is also what dance instructor do for a living and need to have all their everyday expenses met

like everyone else :)


When your new student trial offer is over, please help support the arts by providing funds for your dance school via any of their regular price options.


It will help keep all your favorite dance classes running and dance

schools in business!





Arriving on Time



Please arrive to class On Time.


Arriving late will:

1) Cause a late start, shortening the lesson (or)


2) If class is in progress, disrupt the lesson if you are not already familiar with the steps.


Life happens, an occasional lateness

is ok, especially if the instructors

allows it

(some will not if you miss the warm-up).


Please arrive to class on time

as much as possible!



keeping teaching in a classroom



Only if your partner requests it,

or places you in an unsafe position

(such as squeezing hands too tight)

one should not provide dance advice

outside of a classroom setting

or dance practice session.


Otherwise, "teaching" may place

your partner in an awkward place

taking the fun away from the

social dance experience. ​


I personally do not go into

teaching mode unless someone

knows I am a dance teacher

and asks me for advice which

I gladly have provided :)



Smiling



Don't forget to

Smile while Dancing :-)


After all, it's about sharing these wonderful art forms

that has been passed down from generations

dancing together as one

fabulous dance community :)




Locking & Hustle (Disco)!
[Sometime around 2005 - 2007]



Myrna & her friend Robert performing: Lock N' Hustle.

A fusion between two NYC classic dances: Locking & Hustle (Disco)!





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