How To

How to Refuse a Dance at a Formal Ball

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(8 Ratings)

Don't refuse the person. Refuse the dance.

Difficulty: Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Tuxedos
  • Ballgowns
  • Best Of Ballroom Dancing CDs
  • Ballroom Dancing Videos
  1. Step 1

    Give the person asking your full attention.

  2. Step 2

    Thank him.

  3. Step 3

    Say you are taking a rest.

  4. Step 4

    Offer to dance with him later.

  5. Step 5

    Wait for the next dance. Do not dance with another person until the current dance has ended.

  6. Step 6

    If asked again by the same person, decline again gracefully.

  7. Step 7

    Wait to dance until you are asked to by your desired partner.

Tips & Warnings
  • If you don't like the person asking you to dance, decline, then do the asking yourself next time.

Comments  

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parvenue said

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on 3/23/2009 I've been to a dozen or so formal balls in my lifetime, mostly in New York City. It isn't so formal an affair these days - even though we don the old tuxedo and she the ball gown. You can just say, "no" or "yes" as you like. No reason is necessary. Most guys will just move along on to the next bell. In the old days a woman would just hide her dance card and say that it was "full." And if she danced with someone she liked, she could say that their name was on the list. The most popular women had their cards full at the first, while those more inclined to the proverbial wall would have empty cards. These gals later became highly paid fashion models in the design world and married whomever they chose - while their more popular counterparts ended up disenfranchised housewives.

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on 1/4/2009 I will repeat here the thing my mother would tell me before the monthly dance held by my church. She said this before each dance: "If a boy asks you to dance, it is not a marriage proposal. Just dance with him for the one song and then find someone else to dance with. You don't have to marry him!"

JasneJ said

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on 11/28/2008 I guess you missed Fundamentals of Social Dancing Etiquette? Dance with everyone who asks you is rule number one, two, and three

Shamrox08 said

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on 6/17/2008 "Step 7: Wait to dance until you are asked to by your desired partner."

No self-respecting woman needs to wait for anyone in order to give herself permission to do anything, let alone DANCE.

Shamrox08 said

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on 6/17/2008 "Step 7: Wait to dance until you are asked to by your desired partner."

No self-respecting woman needs to wait for anyone in order to give herself permission to do anything, let alone DANCE.

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