10 Golden Rules of Dance Etiquette
1. Be consistent to class and arrive on time. Come to every class.
Regular attendance is very important for one to become a better dancer
and for the class to advance as a whole. Regular attendance means less
time is spent reviewing and more time learning new steps. If missing is a
must try to make a friend in class that you can get together with 10 minutes
before the next class to review what you missed. Come to class on time:
arriving late disrupts the class and shows a lack of respect for the teacher
and other students. Also, coming to class on time, or better yet, early,
assures that you get the warm up you need. Being warmed up properly
helps keep you free from injury and makes you a stronger dancer.
2. Wear suitable attire and arrange your hair appropriately. You
wouldn’t go swimming in heavy winter jackets. Wear dance clothes that the
teacher requires! If it is a new teacher ask him/her what they prefer you to
wear. Usually a teacher will want to see tighter fitting clothes so they are
able to correct one’s placement. Unless hair is short hair should be tied up
before class. Time should not be wasted tying up hair in class. A neat bun
is preferable in ballet so that one is able to see the line of the neck.
3. Absolutely no gum. No teacher wants his or her student to choke. It
also is not very becoming to be chomping away on gum while you are
trying to learn.
4.Keep talking to a minimum. Ask the teacher, not a friend, if you have a
question. Chances are the teacher has a better answer than your friend.
5.Let the Teacher teach. If you are a student who picks up steps easily do
not complain or brag about steps being easy. Instead, go over the steps
on your own as practice makes perfect. Offering your help to other
students is good but it’s better to get the teacher’s permission. Do not try
to become the teacher yourself . Avoid being a “know it all.” and ordering
people what to do.
6.Take notes when sitting out. If you are late or injured the teacher may
ask you to take notes. It’s not as fun as dancing but you can still learn a
lot, and when you return to class you will not be lost. It is also very helpful
to have a notebook in which you can write new steps in and keep track of
your corrections and progress!
7.Give respect to your teacher. Your teachers have come a long way in
their training and all hope to pass onto you what they have learned. They
are taking their time to be there for you and share this gift with you. Listen,
learn, and have fun. Then, at the end of class, join the group to applaud
and bow or curtsy your instructor. Your substitute teacher also deserves
this courtesy. Subs may teach a little differently. Taking from a different
instructor allows you to see where you are at in terms of learning from
other people. It’s also good to be versatile to other styles and techniques.
Remember that your substitute teacher is often chosen by your regular
instructor who obviously felt you could learn something from this instructor.
8.Give respect to your fellow students. You must always always give
respect to your fellow students. You may not like them, for whatever
reason but when you walk into the dance studio you should be there to
have fun and improve and to learn. Leave any differences aside. At school
they may have called you a name. But at the dance studio you put it aside
and learn to rise above it. You work together and respect each other as a
fellow dancers who are there to do his/her best. Leave the extra attitude at
the door. One way to show respect for others in the classroom is to make
sure that fellow classmates can see the teacher and themselves in the
mirror. Do not stand in front of anyone if possible. Sometimes classes are
crowded and the teacher may not take the time to space everyone. It is up
to the dancers in the class to space themselves out accordingly.
9.Pay attention and look attentive. Watch your fellow classmates.
Watching them can help you see what you may be doing right or wrong.
Do not sit down unless the teacher asks you to do so. Do not lean on the
ballet Barres or touch the mirrors. Imagine if you went to an audition.
Directors don’t just look at talent. They look at how you present yourself. If
you walk in and lean against the Barres while everyone else is watching
and standing attentively, chances are you won’t be called back.
10.Be open. Allow yourself to be open to new ideas and learning new
things. If one is afraid to move or try new things, how they expect to grow
and become better? “Dance like No One is watching.” Have “No Fear”!