Blues Dance is Warm and Thoughtful Human Contact

Being close without being creepy

Swayin’ to the blues. Interior image created in Adobe Firefly; Full image created in Canva by author.

After 13 years of swing dancing and one year of blues, I’ve heard stories. Fellow dancers, all women, have told me about other dancers, primarily men, who got a little handsy or made inappropriate requests. Many of these stories happened during “close embrace” partner dancing, which could be loosely described as a kind of stylized hug while moving in time to the music.

Blues dance is an excellent way to spend time with friends or acquaintances. Listen to the music, move your limbs, and groove on the dance floor with another person. But there are rules, especially regarding the “close embrace” variant of blues dance.

No matter what music style moves you, partner dancing is just that — dancing. It’s never an excuse to grope a stranger’s squishy bits or ask them out. Yes, you’re near each other, but don’t be a creep in the social dance hall. If you can’t keep your raging libido in check, there are other places you can go, like home.

Learn the rules, Jules

I attend Capital Blues dances hosted at a local historic ballroom on most Thursday evenings. During a short break about halfway through the dance, a CB administrator makes announcements and, 98% of the time, reminds us dancers of three…