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

[capitalcor.livejournal.com]

I have never sq danced in my life however similar situation can be found in almost all social events. I think it comes down to your personality. I would have no problem just telling the guy straight up that I wasn't comfortable dancing with him. And if he asked why, just say it doesn't matter why, thats just how I feel. I guess over time you can learn to be an asshole in a really nice way.

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

This is probably the closest I've come to a semi-solution. I think the trick is to have a script of some kind, a means of saying "thanks, but I'm just not comfortable dancing with you," but still allow both parties to save face. I'm just not sure how to do that yet.