"Dance Etiquette 101: Dos and Don'ts for Studio and Performance Settings"

Just like any other community, the dance community has its ‘unwritten rules’ and pieces of culture that make it unique. There are small pieces of etiquette that aren’t always explicitly taught in adult recreational dance classes and are hard to pick up on if you didn’t grow up dancing in the studio. Whether you grew up dancing in the studio or are brand new to the world of dance, it can be helpful to know the etiquette for the spaces you’re in!

Here are 6 do’s and don’ts for the studio and performance settings to help you navigate your classes like a seasoned vet! 

1.DO thank your teacher after class. 

If you are taking class with a teacher that you’ve never danced with before, approach them after class and say, “Hi, my name is ____. Thank you for class today!” If you are taking class with a teacher you know well, waving and saying, “Thank you!” on your way out of the studio is great! This helps your teachers to know that you were engaged in class and is a great way to acknowledge the hard work they’ve put into teaching class that day. 

2. DON’T bring cell phones, food, gum, and drinks other than water into the studio. 

The studio is for dancing; the lounge or lobby is for personal items. By keeping personal items out of the studio, it helps the entire class to maintain focus and dedication to the work going on. If you need a snack or to make a quick phone call (life and low blood sugar happen!), step into the lounge or lobby and return quietly when you’re ready. Refrain from texting and chewing on the side of the room - this also helps to keep the studio floors clean! 

3. DO use body language to show respect to the teacher and your fellow dancers.

We are all busy people who wear many hats and are being pulled in a million directions. Sometimes the last thing you want to do at the end of the day is go to dance. But if you do make it into the studio on those long days, it’s important to use respectful body language to show your teammates and teacher that you are there to be a part of the team! Make eye contact, answer when the teacher asks questions, cover your mouth when you yawn, don’t lay on the floor during class, and give whatever your version of 100% is that day!

4. DON’T walk off the floor if you make a mistake. 

We’ve all been there. You’re doing your across the floor sequence - strut, two, three, four, prep, and turn - and you completely mess up. You feel like all eyes are on you and like you are failing miserably. The urge to give up and walk the rest of the way is STRONG. But it is so important for you to persevere and keep going! This is where growth happens! If you were meant to be perfect at it, your teacher wouldn’t have asked you to do it in rehearsal. The whole point of taking a dance class is to learn something, which means you might fail sometimes. And that’s okay! Don’t give up on yourself and don’t let your teammates give up, either! Cheer each other, keep going, and the next time you do the exercise or movement, you WILL be better at it. Practice makes permanent, babes! 

5. DO watch the performance before yours and congratulate the dancers as they exit the stage. 

When you’re waiting in the curtains to go on stage and there is another group performing before you, create that sense of community over competition by watching them and cheering them on! Make sure you are whispering (or not talking at all) and that you are showing your fellow performers that you have their backs by giving them encouraging smiles and cheering. When they exit the stage, give them high 5s and ‘good job’ whispers! 

6. DON’T stand backstage or in the curtains unless you are dancing next. 

There isn’t a lot of room backstage at any performance venue. The backstage area is reserved for dancers that are on stage and dancers that will on stage next. Anyone else should be in the green room. Dancers often want to see the performance on stage and support their friends while they are dancing but it is important to not interrupt the flow of the show by creating traffic backstage. 

Most importantly: DO have fun! Dance is not that serious! It is something we do to bring joy into our lives and to share in community with one another. Don’t forget to smile, let loose, and celebrate all your hard work - be it in a drop-in class, performance and training program, or live show. We’ll see you in the studio soon, babes!