Pick me - please?..... Pretty please??

[elisedance]

...and I bet she went!

[cornutt]

I do recall a funny one from DF (can't remember who posted it, unfortunately).  He said that he pointed at her, then he pointed at himself, then he pointed at the floor.     The woman was, of course, a friend of his, and it was meant to be humorous.

[elisedance]

.. an invitation to dance or perhaps something else

[cornutt]

.. an invitation to dance or perhaps something else

Not on the dance floor, presumably.   You might get stepped on. 

[elisedance]

more likely a crowd would gather for the er, 'showcase'
letsee, what kind of music would they put on?

[jwlinson]

more likely a crowd would gather for the er, 'showcase'
letsee, what kind of music would they put on?

Don't forget to video the performance, might learn some new moves...

*ahem* back to topic...

At our studio we have our own little corner, and we all intermingle with each other.  The "other corner" intermingles amongst themselves and basically just sit out most dances in favor of drinking coffee.  I've tried to ask these people, and I was turned down once (which was about the only time I've ever actually been turned down), or will spend the dance trying in vain to determine what beat they're dancing along with since they aren't following me...

If someone comes in who is new, or new to ballroom in general, I'll ask them as well.  I don't mind one bit when a lady asks me to dance.

[elisedance]

I'm coming right over

[dancingfool]

Me too.  I'll be next in line to ask you for a dance.   

[Burgess Penguin]

So you go to the social studio and you get directed to the 'Singles Table' and there you sit with (mostly) other women, wallflowers while the couples dance the night away.  And then you go home.

You've written before about the social dance scene in Toronto, and it sounds, well, uptight -- I can't think of a better word to describe it.  It always surprises me, because back when I was travelling a lot to Toronto, that wasn't the general impression I had of the place.  But I never tried to go dancing there either.  (I was a beginner then, and I didn't have the confidence to walk into a place where I didn't know anyone and start asking women to dance.) 

There was a thread on DF (which unfortunately went on longer than it should have) about whether or not couples at a social dance have an obligation to mix and dance with other partners.  There are a lot of factors there, and I won't go into them in this thread (good topic for a new thread), but I will point out that, at least in my area, the vast majority of new dancers come in unescorted.  If singles can't get dances, then they will leave and the dance scene won't grow. 

Oh man, cornutt you are right on the money! I guess we get spoiled here in the States where it's less uptight comparatively.

[elisedance]

Yup.  Here dance partnership is a tighter relationship than marriage. 

What dance has put together, let no man break assunder!  Or there will be thunder!@!@!

[phoenix13]

*resurrecting old thread*

I never have been shy.  If I want to dance, I ask someone.  All of this stuff about strict dance partnerships baffles me.  Of course, many of the dance studios I've been to have generally been of the type where group socializing is strongly encouraged.

[QPO]

gosh I see names on here that I have not seen for ages. would be a lively conversation if they were all here. I am also not shy to ask someone and I would also do the boy parts if required.

[phoenix13]

Another good topic idea -- adventures/observations and cultural norms around dancing the
"boy's" part, as you say.

I guess I have my work cut out for me, come morning.

[elisedance]

if you ask a guy who is in a partnership to dance here you run the danger of being lynched.  Its that restricted.   You basically have to ask permission from the partner first - even then she will assume you are trying to 'steal' him

[phoenix13]

I certainly believe you, but that is so strange.  I've seen something similar but much less intense when it comes to married couples, but I have ever seen dance partners that were so possessive.  Wow.