tango: walk this way

(from the posting on this site: http://www.barefootango.com/thoughts/floorcraft)

What is Floorcraft ? And why is it relevant ?

The short answer is this: Floorcraft is in its essence an observance and awareness of other couples in the room in relation to you, your dance partner, and vocabulary choices one makes whilst staying in the line, lane, and progression of dance of the rotunda at a milonga. Usually floorcraft issues arise due to the amount (or lack there of) of the available space a dancing pair can take up, *AND* at the same time the application of certain codes of etiquette of the dance. Like for instance, not stepping on anyone’s foot, or trying to keep your dance safe and contained as much as is humanly possible, etc.

Floorcraft is probably the single most talked about thing that most people complain about on either side of the gender divide. At the same time, most people, unless you point it out to them, have absolutely no idea what Floorcraft is, and/or why its an absolute necessity. The following is a paraphrased statement by Tony Rathburn out of Denver applies very nicely: Floorcraft is Dancing like the way you should Drive!. Well said. As I have learned in dancing over the years…some folks really do need it spelled out for them on exactly what that really means.

What is below is not a complete list, but its my interpretation of the list of suggestions for floorcraft on a social dance floor. Your mileage my vary, and I reserve the right to change this list as the need arises (smile). This list is by no means complete, nor is it as concise as it needs to be. It is a work in progress and I’m not the sole author here (Thanks to Tony, Homer, Vanja, Tom, and many many others).

Rules of Floorcraft

1.) Leaders when entering the line of dance, make eye contact with the on coming traffic of leaders and acknowledge that you’d like to enter the line of dance and ONLY enter when you have consented acknowledgement of the leader next in the lane of dance. This also means do NOT allow your follower to jump onto the floor or into the flow of dance. YOU as a leader are responsible for her. However if there is an open gap in the line of dance, you MAY be able to slip in, but that gap should be several partners wide. Don’t think a few feet here, but rather YARDS of space.

2.) Remember that we want to have 1 couple merging into the Rotunda at a time, IE: Queue up!

3.) Keep your dance vocabulary limited to the size of the Lane and the Progression of dance of the rotunda. Avoid, stepping backwards into the line of dance, avoid leaving the lane of dance, and respect the space of the couples ahead you, behind you, and next to you, try not to tailgate or hold up the progression of the rotunda.

4.) Try to form multiple LANES of dance so that we can all share the space together. Keep the lanes moving in an orderly progression. Try to keep the ‘flashy’ moves to an absolute minimum, so that it doesn’t interfere or frighten other couples.

5.) When collisions happen: Smile, Make Eye Contact to acknowledge the collision, and then *APOLOGIZE* as soon as is humanly possible, even if you think you are right.

6.) In crowded spaces, try to keep your vocabulary limited to foundational movements in close or open, and really try to keep the follower’s feet on the floor. If you must throw a boleo, aim for the edges of the dance floor, NEVER into the line or another lane of dance.

7.) When changing lanes of dance, you really do have to signal, which means catching the eye of the lead in the next lane of dance and asking his permission to cross his line of dance.

8.) Keep your dance moving. A good rule of thumb is that you want to keep moving and not stop, so that means getting rid of the flashy displays, and keep your follower walking, in the progression of the rotunda (or down line and lane of dance).

For a more detailed list: http://www.totango.net/floor.html