Square Dance Etiquette Question

[bjarvis]

A relatively new square dancer asked me the following question tonight:
How do you politely deal with someone who wishes to be your dance partner but makes you exceedingly uncomfortable?

I suggested pre-emptively ensuring you have a partner already arranged for the upcoming tip but this ducks the issue rather than dealing with it. Likewise choosing to sit out a tip rather than dance with the objectionable party is inadequate: one shouldn't have to sacrifice one's own participation in an event just because of one individual.

Thoughts?

Comments

[fuzzygruf.livejournal.com]

I don't know. The pre-emptive thing is what I do to avoid people I don't like, but no one makes me feel "uncomfortable." That's something different. Maybe I'd try to be a bad dance partner: Bad handholds. Stares of death. No conversation. Stepping on feet. Anything but actually dealing with the problem.