Busy dance floor

H

himji

Any tips for keeping a clearish area on the dance floor? I had a particular dance today and more people kept coming on pushing us right into a corner, it was pretty crap and it was very hard to keep me and my partner from getting knocked :/
 
You'll eventually learn to stand your ground without hurting or offending the other dancers. I tend to use my back to keep others away, as it doesn't injure someone to brush against me. Also, some circular moves, like a back-spot turn, help maintain your space.
 
Kind of like beating a little path in the wilderness of dancers? Hack a little space there and them make the move?

I was just concerned I was going to send my partner flying into either somebody or the (empty) salad bar we had in on the side of the dance floor (don't ask). It even got to the point where I asked if we should just move but she was ok so I must have been doing an good job keeping her safe even though it was stressful
 
I like to throw a couple handfuls of thumbtacks down in a circle around me. It also helps teach my partner not to overtravel.
 
If at all possible, I try to dance in areas that aren't really the designated dance floor. This depends on the place you are; it may or may not be an option. One place I go to I dance in the hallway, or in between the dance floor and the bathrooms. A lot of people chuckle when they see me and my partner dancing there, but my rule of thumb is that as long as it's not carpet, I'd rather be dancing in an odd place than get injured.

I find it hard to enjoy a dance when I don't feel safe, and no matter how good the lead is, there's only so much he can do to protect you from others who might not be as mindful of sharing the space.

When you're not fretting about the heels of the lady behind you or the elbows of the guy to your left, you can focus on enjoying the music, your partner, and the moment--what we're all there for! :D
 
I posted this in another thread, but one woman told me she bumps her behind into other dancers that are getting too close.
 
There were some messages about this in other threads but I can't remember which ones.

My approach to defend space is to gently make contact with lead neighbors on almost every turn/cbl/move. They usually get the message that this is a crowded area and they migrate elsewhere. If I see someone trying to head into the space I just successfully cleared I start dancing very big and very stagnant. If the newcomers don't get the message that this is my space I go back to no 1. above.

On some nights its hopeless. Wednesday before Thanksgiving in the US is party night everywhere, hopeless case to find space. I stay home. The weeknights between Xmas and NYE are often busy if its a popular club night. Often there are a lot of oldtimers I haven't seen in many years back in town for a visit. I just settle for a few tightly spaced dances and socialize more with old friends.
 
If they're coming in from the ends of the slot I'll use my back to block them. If they're coming from the sides I'll hold my arm up or put my hand on their shoulder and connect with the lead with gently increase my pressure to redirect him as he get closer and closer.

Once I've cleared space I try to keep moving in and out of it as much as possible to give my neighbors the message that it's not clear area.

There are many times where you can't keep the area clear, so look as you send her in and if it's not clear redirect her then immediately step into the area as it clears to indicate that it's not free space.
 
sweavo said:
I like to throw a couple handfuls of thumbtacks down in a circle around me. It also helps teach my partner not to overtravel.
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I just put up traffic cones around me and my partner :P

god this is such an issue in NYC. i can't stand some nights and in particular last night at a year end party, there were times and I was just tired of working on protecting my partner. Girl's might not feel safe, but it's really frustrating as a lead to constantly have to worry about space when all you want to do is focus on the music, the moves you apply to the music and your lovely partner. I got a comment from one advanced follow last night that put me off for the rest of the night, but honestly it was so tight between the wires on the floor, the speakers and the three couples around us that kept on creeping in. Uggh drove me nuts.

At jimmy's tonight the space was just right. Hopefully leading in NYC makes you naturally dance in a small space, but sometimes I feel like my space is getting attacked from all sides. When the floor is like that I just end up going home early and practicing my spins.

My recommendation is to learn to do a 360 swing and the waltz step and add a lot of change of place type moves in your patterns. That helps a lot, but in tighter spots, I'm less prone to leading spins since elbows start flying. Literally last night I didn't have a lot of faith that my partners wouldn't travel or that their spins wouldn't be interrupted, or they wouldn't hurt an incoming scud missile with their elbow.

I'm not good enough to be honest to handle really tough situations, so I sit them out. I think the ability of dancing in a tight spot really comes with experience and general ability to dance small.
 
When it's really crowded I resign myself to keeping the dancing simple. There's a guy around here who insists on doing complex moves with inexperienced partners no matter how crowded it is: inevitably they end up banging into people.

If you can dance compactly, another tactic when it's getting really messy is to dance parallel to a wall or in a corner - it cuts down the number of directions people can come at you from.
 
bailar y tocar said:
My approach to defend space is to gently make contact with lead neighbors on almost every turn/cbl/move. They usually get the message that this is a crowded area and they migrate elsewhere. If I see someone trying to head into the space I just successfully cleared I start dancing very big and very stagnant. If the newcomers don't get the message that this is my space I go back to no 1. above.
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Sorry, but I find this kind of behaviour extremely selfish. Usually when I feel a push on my back from a leader doing exactly this, I'm already in at least as tight as space as they are and - to be honest - it actually encourages me to dance bigger and move into their space just because the arrogance that their space is more important than mine annoys me.
 
Me: I feel guilty when I step on someone. So is it better to be the stepper or the stepee?
Partner: The stepper. It hurts less.
 
You know what annoys me the most. When I have somehow just managed to find the perfect little bit of space on the floor and someone comes and tries to dance in that space. I don't think most understand just how much floor they use.(Guilty as well)
 
Some followers don't realise that the leader is trying to dance small on a crowded floor. It is my pet peeve! If leader is dancing small please don't take a bigger CBL step..it defeats the purpose. Don't swing out big on the break step after CBL. It is up to the leader to lead the dance in small space. I found the best followers who can dance small have a good body balance and can hold their axis.

Then there is an another type of (wild) follower who will make it a point to almost run into other couples near-by no matter how much you try to restrain her.

Then there are by-standers who insist on standing in the dance space on a crowded floor. I actually have to nudge them out if they encroach whatever little space is there.

Most dancers are very accommodating when the floor is crowded. If a new pair joins in the others will make adjustments to make some space for them. Most of the problems are caused by non-trained dancers who are truly oblivious to the mayhem they cause by their unpredictable movement.

I hate getting on the crowded dance floor if I feel it is going to be one too many. I prefer sitting out every other song. Sometimes I sit out an entire set.
 
That's exactly my point/problem Vin.

I've been used to aasking girls a little later into the dance for a dance since I'm fairly n00bish it means I don;t have to dance the entire dance and thus repeat certain patterns alot less. But with these busy floors, I've had to grab them and book my floor space early
 
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