Square Dance Etiquette Question
Feb. 23rd, 2006 10:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bjarvisA 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?
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?
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no subject
Date: 2006-02-24 03:24 pm (UTC)Typically, I have sat out sets rather than dance with an objectionable person, but then again, I've never been continuously pursued more than a couple of times. Either my would-be admirer got the hint or I'm not worth pursuing but either way, the situation was saved.
The person who posed the original question to me may have a lower threshold for toxicity, or may actually be a pursued by a true stalker. At his particular dance level (intro), his opportunities to dance are somewhat limited so sitting out more than two or three sets means losing the whole night. Recruitment is tough enough: I'd rather not lose a new person so quickly.