Da Rules
I pretty much don't break my rules. They're too important to go by the wayside.
- Do everything in my power to keep the follow that I am dancing with safe. Don't hurt them, and don't let anyone else hurt them. This is rule #1 because it is the most important thing. IT IS BY FAR THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
- Dance with everyone, and enjoy dancing with everyone. It's not easy to have fun with every single partner, but I think that it is part of what makes dancing fulfilling for a lifetime rather than a year or two (this rule is a carry-over of my "rules to sing by that I've had for most of my life"). I'll write more on that later.
- Care, and show and say that I care. Show my partners that I like dancing with them. Tell them. Encourage partners who have learned something new, or do something that I like about them.If there are too few leads, ask the follow who hasn't danced in a while. Heck, if I see that there is such a follow no matter if there are enough leads, I ask them.
- Make friends as much as possible. Dancing only with acquaintances isn't as fulfilling. Part of dancing is sharing with someone else emotionally. You will do that more with a friend than with an acquaintance. Also, those compliments mean a lot more from a friend than from a stranger.
- Workout really hard at least three times a week. That includes, most especially, weight lifting and endurance training.
Da Guidelines
I break these some of the time. If I'm too tired, or there's some unusual circumstance, I might not follow these rules.- Be about to die before I say no to someone who asks me to dance who I don't know (who may therefore be a beginner), and if so, ask them later. #5 from the previous list means I'm tough enough to take anybody on.
- Take extra effort in making beginners feel happy. If I can't get 'em to smile because they're worried about being bad at it, try for more than one dance at different times in the night. Try talking.
- Give no advice unless I'm worried about safety.The only one I've actually given without asking is "please don't grip my arm like that, because a lead might accidentally dislocate your shoulder or you might dislocate theirs doing that."
- Always ask to dance, never expect, never drag someone onto the floor - even with friends who have never said no. No one should be taken for granted.
I think that most everything else is subject to change.
Why do I have these?
I suspect that everybody has their own set, but doesn't actually put them into words. But putting into words I can know what I expect of myself, and of other people.
Now, I think I should point out that these are my rules and guidelines. They don't necessarily apply to you. A friend of mine over at LindyHopProblems has her own view of guideline #1. And I personally know people for whom I would say that they shouldn't dance with everyone for safety reasons (in other words, they're fragile, and some potential partners are big and dangerous).
I believe that it is to your benefit, however, for as many of these rules as you can apply to be your rules as well.
I believe that it is to your benefit, however, for as many of these rules as you can apply to be your rules as well.
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