Social dancing refers to informal partner dancing for enjoyment rather than performance. It is danced for socialization and health rather than to meet standards. The goal is for partners to have fun rather than dance perfectly. Social dancing differs from ballroom dancing in being suited for smaller, crowded spaces like restaurants. While some dances like tango can be done progressing around the floor, others like salsa are done in one spot. Dances must adapt to the size of the floor, with progressive dances staying on the edge of small floors and spot dances in the center. On very small floors, dances may need to modify moves to be stationary rather than traveling.
Social dancing refers to informal partner dancing for enjoyment rather than performance. It is danced for socialization and health rather than to meet standards. The goal is for partners to have fun rather than dance perfectly. Social dancing differs from ballroom dancing in being suited for smaller, crowded spaces like restaurants. While some dances like tango can be done progressing around the floor, others like salsa are done in one spot. Dances must adapt to the size of the floor, with progressive dances staying on the edge of small floors and spot dances in the center. On very small floors, dances may need to modify moves to be stationary rather than traveling.
Social dancing refers to informal partner dancing for enjoyment rather than performance. It is danced for socialization and health rather than to meet standards. The goal is for partners to have fun rather than dance perfectly. Social dancing differs from ballroom dancing in being suited for smaller, crowded spaces like restaurants. While some dances like tango can be done progressing around the floor, others like salsa are done in one spot. Dances must adapt to the size of the floor, with progressive dances staying on the edge of small floors and spot dances in the center. On very small floors, dances may need to modify moves to be stationary rather than traveling.
Social dancing refers to informal partner dancing for enjoyment rather than performance. It is danced for socialization and health rather than to meet standards. The goal is for partners to have fun rather than dance perfectly. Social dancing differs from ballroom dancing in being suited for smaller, crowded spaces like restaurants. While some dances like tango can be done progressing around the floor, others like salsa are done in one spot. Dances must adapt to the size of the floor, with progressive dances staying on the edge of small floors and spot dances in the center. On very small floors, dances may need to modify moves to be stationary rather than traveling.
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Social dancing is partner dancing that is informal, relaxed,
and danced for the enjoyment of the partners rather than
to meet the criteria of a dance school or an audience. Social dancing is danced for enjoyment, socialization, recreation and health. The test for social dancing success is how much the dance partners have enjoyed the dance - not how they have danced in the eyes of others or how "correctly" they have danced.
Social dancing is different for American ballroom dancing
which is sometimes called social ballroom dancing. Ballroom dancing is meant to be danced in ballrooms, and social dancing is suited for dancing on small or crowded floors, such as dance floors found in restaurants and pubs. If ballroom dancers wish to use their dancing skills in social dance environments, they do need to change and adapt their style and steps. Tips on how to adapt ballroom dancing skills to social situations can be found under Floor Craft.
Types of Social Dances
Spot or Slot Dances
Spot or slot social dances are dances a couple dance in one
spot or slot. Once a couple establish their dance spot or slot on the dance floor, they do not drift around the dance floor. Spot or slot dances are best suited for nightclub dance floor.
Salsa, Cha-Cha, Rumba, Samba, West Coast and East Coast
Swing, Jitterbug, Charleston, Lindy, Blues, Street Hustle, Nightclub Two Step, Nightclub Freestyle, Tango Nuevo, Neo Tango, Hip Hop and related dances are examples of spot or slot social dances nightclub type dance floors.
Progressive Dances
A progressive dance is a dance that travels around the dance
floor in an anti-clockwise direction. Progressive social dances generally need a somewhat larger floor than those best suited for spot dancing - a floor size that permits travelling around the dance floor - but not one as large as a dance hall or ballroom.
Traditional Argentine Tango, Country Two Step, Social Waltz,
and Social Foxtrot are examples of progressive social dances. The close embrace, small steps and absence of embellishments in milonguero style Argentine Tango makes it well suited to dance progressively on smaller floors.
Adapting to the Dance Space
It is not uncommon to see a progressive and spot social
dancers sharing the same floor on the larger social dance floors. In this case, the progressive dancers dance along the edge of the dance floor while the spot dancers occupy the centre. For instance, Country Two Step dancers can dance on the edge while Swing dancers can dance in the centre of the floor. However, in order to dance a progressive or travelling dance in a small space, it is necessary for progressive dancing to be customary in that dance place. If spot dancers dominate the space and dance along the edge, a progressive dancer should not push their way around the dance floor. In these situations, it is best for everyone to dance a spot dance. A Waltz, for example can be converted to a spot dance by using steps and patterns based on the box step. Instead on dancing a progressive Foxtrot, dancers can dance Swing or Freestyle Nightclub. Tango dancers can dance Tango Nuevo or Neo TangoTango that uses circular spot patterns such as the molinete (circular grapevine around the other partner), the calecita (the carousel - a walk around the other partner) and short walks, rather than the progressive caminar (a progressive walk).
The Quickstep, Standard or American Tango and
International ballroom style dances in general, are not suited for small dance floors. When dancing on small floors, dancers trained in ballroom style dancing must learn to change their style to social style dancing and adapt to the situation. Dancing ballroom style on small dance floors can be dangerous.t Samba patterns and not use progressive/travelling patterns.