Simple Rules to Avoid Injuries While Dancing

On full dance floors, sometimes with little light, and some dancers who want to impress their partner with sprawling figures, it is sometimes not always easy not to get hurt. Anyone who dances longer knows how exhausting it can be. Therefore, carefulness is essential in dancing to avoid injuries; check out ballroom dancing steps to stay as careful as possible here: https://www.quicksteps.com.au/ballroom-dance-lessons.

The top rule when dancing is always: “Don’t hurt anyone”!

Of course, this also includes dancing in such a way that you do not inadvertently injure anyone. Consideration and full control over yourself and your partner at all times is therefore paramount.

I think in every scene there is always a “Horst” who flattens everyone, and has sometimes been for years. Kicking or walking into other couples is not a trivial offense and is not only inconsiderate and embarrassing, but also dangerous! When driving a car, it would be very strange to constantly drive in front of other cars, slow them down, brush against them or ram them – so why when dancing?

While tango (and milonga) even have 14 fixed rules of behavior (Galateo della Milonga by Carlos Gavito), with salsa and bachata it is more like rules that are unwritten and have formed over time and sometimes differ from region to region.

Thanks to your answers and comments, I have already added a few things so that the list is now longer and certainly now covers even more scenes.

Important Rules to Avoid Injuries While Dancing

A nice quote in advance: “Feeling and technology are wonderful additions and not a contradiction in terms … also when avoiding injuries.”

• If you leave your seat or come back to the bar, a full dance floor is not crossed. You walk on the edge, carefully and so slowly and waiting that you don’t run into any pair.
• As a dancing couple you always try to stay in one place during a piece and dance there (line dancers in their line). This area is now “reserved” for this couple. As a strange couple, you don’t dance in there or start right behind someone else’s back.
• The leader (usually the man) controls the dance by adapting his figures to the degree of filling of the dance floor and the skills of the partner. Other couples are not affected!
• Dancers shouldn’t “push themselves into” a full dance floor. How often did it happen that you have to give up your own little place because someone still thinks they are ruthlessly pushing themselves somewhere in the middle of a song.
• In extreme cases, it sometimes seems to be so important that people try to walk through other dance couples in the middle or to push them aside because they want to be in the middle of the dance floor in the middle of the song … Apart from the risk of injury, I also think that’s pronounced disrespectful and rude.
• The leader never leads the partner into a new position if he has not looked there beforehand and sees that there is room. The look over the shoulder at the Cross, for example, is not a favor to do to the woman, but very important, as she goes backwards and blindly in this direction!
• Do not raise your elbows to face level when turning.
• If it is very crowded on the dance floor, you only dance tightly and avoid figures and expansive styling and if so, then only in the direction where you are looking and you are not a person! No hand throws on crowded dance floors!
• Conversations are not held in groups on the dance floor. It’s a risk for everyone.
• If you spill a drink or if there are broken pieces on the dance floor, you should inform the staff immediately or repair the damage yourself.
• When the dance floors are full, don’t dance in circles and step backwards in new directions! Strictly speaking, this is grossly negligent behavior and not a trivial offense caused by carelessness!
• Advanced dancers help beginners and show consideration. But even beginners have to be considerate from the start and apply the rules.
• You should also invite new dancers from time to time. So, they become safer and at the same time learn how to behave.
• Noteworthy: Watches, large earrings, long fingernails, etc. can also cause injuries. Caution!

And if you do kick someone, or something worse happens, then you should apologize to the neighboring couple concerned (so don’t ignore it), get ice cream and plasters, buy a drink, shift down a gear and consider taking a break.