Helpful Tips for Guys from a Ladies Perspective.

Okay Guys - I gave the ladies advice on how to keep their dance card full and now its your turn.

If you get a bad reputation among the ladies, you will find it hard sometimes to get partners to dance with you. We do tend to talk amongst ourselves about our favorite dancers/leads. There are a few small things that you can do to become one of our favorites.

Hygiene!

Guys tend to get sweaty, it happens, I totally understand that. Keep in mind that we are in a typically hot environment, being very active. Make sure that you are mindful and shower beforehand and use deodorant and cologne. You may need to re-evaluate your favorite brand as it might not be able to handle the situation at hand. Staying fresh throughout the night is a great way to ensure that you do not offend the ladies, we love to dance with a guy that smells amazing.

Do not out dance the lady.

I see this all the time, guys learn a difficult pattern and try to lead it on the social floor and the lady does not follow properly, gets off beat or worse even hurt in the process. Always try to feel out the dancing level of a lady before trying a complicated pattern. You should never make her feel inadequate. Start off simple and progressively get more difficult. I would rather dance clean and simple than 50 million spins. Believe it or not there is a lot you can do with a cross body lead (Dile que No)

Know your timing.

I have danced with guys that do not know their timing and are all over the place. Although I can follow, I am constantly looking out to prevent getting stepped on. I cannot stress enough that you should take your time on your lead as well, know when it supposed to be lead and not jerk the lady around when she's supposed to be stepping back. It's painful! Also, be mindful of "kicking" before you step. I have noticed many guys kicking out their steps and kicking me in the process. A way to combat this is to listen to music when you aren't dancing so the beat gets ingrained in your head, or even to try following sometime. I've even known to get confused and off beat, and I look to you guys to get me back where I need to be.

Protect your Lady.

She's trusting you for the dance. I am putting my safety into your hands. Be mindful of your space and the other couples on the floor. Do not throw her into another couple, or a wall or post. Believe it or not, this has happened to me as well. I am spinning and cannot watch the people around us and BAM I hit something or someone. Also, other guys may not be doing the same as you, so make sure to move her if that couple looks dangerous. If she does happen to get injured, please make sure she's okay before continuing, she may need to sit this one out, other times she'll just keep going.

Smile.

Have fun, nothing is worse that looking at a partner who seems like he would rather be eating glass than dancing with you. If things mess up - laugh it off. Don't scowl at her if she doesn't get your lead. Looking at my partner with a huge grin on his face boosts our confidence, we dance better and look forward to the next time.

Keeping these little tips in mind will help you become one of the favorites, and you will have girls lining up to dance with you. You may not have to even ask us at all.

Keeping Your Dance Card Full

Okay ladies, so you've taken the lessons, you've got the shoes, the dress...you head out anticipating a night of dancing, and you end up sitting on the sidelines. What's wrong with this picture?

Believe it or not, this has happened to all of us at one time or another. I am known to get my hopes up of a night of crazy dancing, only to sit out all the good songs. Then I go home defeated and upset. How to combat this? How do you keep your card full enough to how much you want to dance?

First off is expectation. Know what to expect. If you don't get to dance much, its okay, enjoy the music and meet some people. Well that's what my partner says :) Do not go out expecting to be the belle of the ball and have a line waiting for her. Do expect to say hi and be cordial to other people at the club and introduce yourself. You may have better luck if you get to know the guys at the club.

Second is all about Attitude! SMILE! Even if your feet hurt, you are hot, cranky, PMSing. Look like you are having more fun than everyone. This will attract people that want to have fun too. Make eye contact. Do not hide against the wall and look down sullenly. DO NOT say no when asked to dance the first time by ANY guy. Other guys see this and will not want to approach to be shot down. Look at it from their point of view, they have to get the courage up to ask you, and you blow them off. Now if you give them a shot and they hurt you, or disrespect you, then you have the right to say no to a second dance.

Third is show them what you have. Ask a guy friend to take you out so the other dancers can see that you are capable. Knowing that you can dance and look good doing it, will make you stand out a bit more than the wallflower. Make sure to dress the part as well. Do not wear clothing that will impede your dancing, such as shoes that you cannot reasonably spin in. This doesn't mean you have to bring your dance shoes, but make sure to test them out before hand. We are all guilty of wearing a dress that doesn't stay put when you move. So test that out too, or tape the hell out of it, or wear shorts underneath even.

Some other things to consider - not all guys are looking for the same in a dancer. Some guys only want experienced girls, or inexperienced girls. You may never dance with ever guy at the club. Also if the ratio is more girls than guys, switch venues. If there are not a lot of girls that can dance, then your chances are higher.

Also - hygiene is huge! Guys don't like girls with bad breath, or I even heard of hair that smells bad. I have considerably short hair, so I don't know about this first hand, but if your hair is longer it will end up in his face at some point. Another important but often overlooked component is alcohol. Do NOT be the sloppy drunk girl, that is no fun to dance with.

The biggest part about social dancing is that it should be FUN! If you are not going out to have fun, stay home. Following these tips should help you to be asked more. If all else fails - ask the guy - take control of what you get to dance. He'll thank you for taking the pressure off of him!