Handling Dance Invitations from Less Experienced Dancers
Dancing is a wonderful and social pastime that can bring joy, connection, and even fitness into your life. But what happens when you receive an invitation to dance, but you know you will not enjoy dancing with this person? While declining a dance invitation politely is crucial, there may be times when you'd rather not dance with someone because you find their dancing style less enjoyable or perhaps they are a less experienced dancer. This can be a sensitive situation, but it's still possible to navigate it with grace and respect. Here are some tips on how to handle such scenarios:
1. Keep an Open Mind:
Before declining an invitation from a less experienced dancer, consider that everyone starts somewhere. You were once a beginner too. Give them a chance to improve and grow as a dancer.
2. Offer Constructive Feedback:
If you're comfortable with it, you can provide constructive feedback rather than declining outright. After the dance, you might say something like, "I noticed you're working on your [specific dance skill]. It could be helpful to try [suggestion]." Offering help in a positive and supportive manner can be appreciated. However, be careful of teaching someone if you are not a professional. Remember that professional dancers go through years of dance and teaching training to be able to do what they do. Teaching someone when you don’t have these skills can result in confusing and inadvertently discouraging.
3. Dance with Patience and Kindness:
If you decide to accept an invitation from a less experienced dancer, be patient and kind on the dance floor. Focus on having fun and ensuring that they enjoy the experience as well. Your positive attitude may encourage them to improve and make future dances more enjoyable.
4. Find Common Ground:
Discover a dance style or song that you both enjoy, and suggest dancing to that. Finding common ground can lead to a more enjoyable dance for both parties.
5. Practice Empathy:
Remember that declining an invitation because someone is a less experienced dancer may hurt their feelings. Be empathetic, as you wouldn't want to discourage them from dancing altogether.
6. Hone Your Own Skills:
Keep in mind that an experienced dancer can usually find a way to enjoy a dance, even with a less experienced partner. If you find yourself continually refusing offers to dance from beginner dancers, it may be worth considering taking some dance classes to improve your own skills. Always relying on someone to lead you through the steps means you are setting yourself up for missing a lot of fun. Take a few private lessons at your local dance studio, or check out online resources. Dance Flavor offers a variety of on-demand classes where you can work on your dance technique, styling, steps, musicality and more.
While declining a dance invitation from someone with less experience or whose dancing style you find less enjoyable can be tricky, it's important to handle such situations with kindness and respect. Everyone deserves the opportunity to improve, and by offering constructive feedback or finding alternative solutions, you can help foster a positive dancing environment for all involved. Dance is about joy and connection, and with the right approach, you can maintain those elements even in challenging situations.
