Ms. Poppy Chiffon — the doyenne of dance, the baroness of ballroom etiquette, the sultana of Southern hospitality — is pleased to answer your dance-related questions. Here are a few queries that Poppy deigned to extract from her mailbag this week. If you have a question that you would like Poppy Chiffon to address, please e-mail her at askpoppy@dancestationusa.com. Ms. Chiffon regrets that she cannot respond individually to questions.
Dear Poppy
My dance partner and I only like country music. We want to know if there are any country-western dances besides the two-step, waltz and swing.
Bored with Two-Step
Dear Bored,
There is nothing boring about two-step. Come on, li’l darling, just mix it up with some swing. We women of refinement, however, prefer the nightclub two-step. It can be danced to many types of music including country.
Poppy,
I can’t feel my partner’s frame. Should I say something or let an instructor advise him?
Unframed
Dear Unframed,
It depends on the relationship that you have with your partner. Most times, though, it would be better to mention the problem to an instructor during a class so there won’t be any hard feelings. After all, honey, constructive criticism is in the eyes of the criticized. I think it is better to be nice or at least let your instructor be the bad guy. We all have our faults. Perhaps there is something you could do to help your partner hold frame.
Dear Poppy,
Where can I find dance shoes?
Shoeless
Dear Shoeless,
Try DSOL or Supadance if you can’t find any soft-soled shoes where you live. Just remember: Save your rubbers for April showers. NO RUBBER SOLES on your dance shoes or you’ll be like a bee stuck in honey every time you try to move on the dance floor. I prefer to save my honey for my chamomile tea.
Dear Poppy,
What is the correct dance floor etiquette for moving down line of dance?
Bruised on the Dance Floor
Dear Bruised,
Oh my, you must tell whoever hurt you that moving dances, such as waltz, foxtrot and two-step, go on the outside of the floor moving counter clockwise. More stationary dances, such as rumba, cha-cha and swing, must stay near the center of the dance floor. Hope you weren’t too badly bruised — and if you were, Ms. Poppy always recommends a warm soak with Epsom salts.
