If you are someone who just started taking social dancing classes but haven’t gotten the courage to go to any parties yet, then this is for you. In this post I will explain what the parties are like, what to take with you and how this all works. I recently went to a party and vlogged the whole experience so you could see what it looks like. Hopefully this serves as a nudge of encouragement and make you will ready to join the next social in your city.
Getting Ready
First you get ready – shower, brush your teeth and find dance-friendly party clothes. If it’s an indoor party, take your indoor dance shoes with you. It’s okay to pack them in a separate shoe bag if they don’t fit in your purse. Guys usually also bring extra shirt(s) if they sweat through the first one. You’ll also want to bring a deodorant, some mints, hand sanitiser etc – hygiene is extremely important, since you’ll be dancing very close to others for many hours!
Purchasing Tickets
The party can be completely free of charge; free, but you are encouraged to buy a drink from the bar to support the event, or with an entrance fee. Parties during workshop weekends or festivals are usually included in the event pass.
At the Venue
When you get to the venue you take off your outerwear and change shoes. Hopefully, you can store them in a wardrobe. Ladies usually take their purses to the dance hall and leave them on chairs or windowsills close to the dance floor. It’s not really possible to dance Latin dances with a bag, even if it’s small.
The People
Just like in dance classes, you don’t have to come with a partner. At parties people invite each other to dance even if they don’t know each other that well, so it’s not uncommon to go alone. Newcomers might feel better attending with their dance school friends or classmates. People who have been dancing for longer will most likely see many familiar faces there anyway.
Social dance parties are for all ages, shapes and sizes, for singles, couples and married people – anyone who wants to dance!
Additional Activities
At the start of the party there might be a workshop (= dance class) or two, after which social dancing begins. At bigger events they might pause social dancing around midnight for some performances and shows.
Dancing
Social dancing etiquette is as follows. First, you invite someone or receive an invitation to dance. You go to the dance floor together and dance to 1-2 songs. During the dance it is not appropriate to teach the other person any dance moves (unless it’s a practice party for that exact purpose). If they are an inexperienced dancer, you simply adjust to their level and do easier moves. At the end you say “thank you” to your partner (no high-fiving like in class!) and you walk off the dance floor together. Repeat.
In between dances you can sit or stand close to the dance floor and chat with your friends or look at people dancing. Don’t forget to drink lots of water to stay hydrated. It’s also a wise idea to wash your hands from time to time. It’s not common to consume a lot of alcohol, since you need good balance and be alert enough to execute your finest dance moves. People drink sometimes, but very lightly.
End of the Party
Smaller regular weekday parties won’t last longer than until 11pm or midnight, but bigger events can end anywhere between 2am and 8am in the morning. Whenever you feel like you’ve had enough dances, you will say goodbye to your dance friends, change your shoes and leave the venue.
The Vlog
In 2020 fall I attended “Bachata Day” event in Tartu, Estonia and recorded a vlog of the evening party. At the party they played salsa and bachata music and around midnight there were also shows.
Conclusion
Going to your first party can be scary, since you don’t know what to expect. However once you get over your initial fear, it will only become better. Your dancing skills will improve faster and you’ll gain much more confidence if you attend parties regularly, so it’s worth it to get over the fear. Parties are the heart of social dancing – you will miss out on all the fun if you only attend classes!