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

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

If it's a one-off, I grin and bear it

Yeah, I do largely the same. I'll have to remember your "we don't seem to dance well together" phrase... it's direct without being accusatory or insulting.

The other really difficult moment is - what do you do if the worst two dancers in the hall join a square you've already joined?

Yeah, not much you can do except feign death but there's only so many times you can do that in a night before people start getting suspicous. Your hubby has it easy... he can always claim sudden arrhythmia. :-)