Collisions. Hurt feelings. A circus atmosphere. Sounds like something from the World Wrestling Federation? Think again! This is your dance class without etiquette! OK, so maybe it's not quite the WWF, but there are some particulars to dance classes that make them run smoothly. Knowing these little details will help everyone get more out of their classes!

You walk in: Immediately get ready for class. In the changing room, take as little time as possible. Others will be coming and will need the changing room. Coming in 10 minutes early should be plenty of time to know that you will be able to get ready, but if someone takes 5 minutes to get changed, that time will disappear quickly for others.

Now, about your attire. Did you come to dance, or just to look good? Hopefully- you will do a bit of both, but you should always adhere to the dress code. If you do not know your studio’s dress code, you should find out before attending class. We have a dress code for many reasons. The top reasons are: Like colors are much less distracting than a chaos of colors, flexible clothes allow your teacher to see your muscles better, and hair is distracting when it is not under control. If you are younger than other students in your class your age appropriate leotard will give me a quick visual reminder that you are younger. When you dress carelessly, you are in a way telling the people around you that you don't respect the school enough to do what is asked of you.

When you are ready to dance, wait quietly in the observation area for the class before yours to end. When they have taken their things out of the cubbies, you should go to the cubbies and put all of your things, including your carried shoes, into the cubby. If there are not enough cubbies, you can share, or put all of your things into ONE bag and put it behind a bench. Try to keep the observation area neat and a place where people can enjoy sitting.

Your class is starting: Go to the bathroom before class or in between subjects, not during class. When being called to floor, come immediately, not at your own leisure.

At this school, I start the classes the same each week. This is so that there is no interruption trying to get class started. The students can come into class and know where they are expected to be. So, if your class starts at the barre, you should be there with your left hand on the barre and your feet in first position. If your class starts center, be in a windowed formation and ready to dance. This lets me know you are ready to take class. Return to this same place at the end of an exercise, so that I know you are ready for the next exercise.

In ballet class, when you have completed the right side, you always turn TOWARD the barre, and not away, to begin the left. Why is this? Well, in classical ballet, during the barre portion of your class, the barre is considered your partner; as it would be VERY rude to turn your back on your partner, you always turn toward the barre, unless otherwise choreographed.

One important tip: it is NEVER wrong to ask a question clarifying what a teacher has said. Questions help everybody understand better. This is NOT appropriate if you're asking because you weren't paying attention the first time! Once the question is asked, accept the answer. Make sure too, that your question is truly necessary. Do not chit chat. Remember, less time talking or questioning, is more time dancing!

OK, time to come center. Take turns standing in different places in the room. Don't force someone else to go front or back because you must cling to the same spot every week. DO NOT SIT DOWN unless instructed. Ever.

When your instructor shows you an exercise, let them show you....then mark it as a group with the instructor, then do the exercise. Your time across the floor or in the center is the time for your teacher to watch you and then they will give you the corrections that they think will help you. If you have questions, make sure everyone is done dancing, because their time in the center or across the floor should be their time.

Additionally, those mirrors don't bite! That is unused space up there, a precious and rare commodity in a small studio.

Now it's time to go across the floor. Be aware of everyone around you. If you're going across in pairs, make sure you are on one side of the invisible line or the other, and STAY THERE. Do not drift into your partner's space. When finishing across the floor, walk around the outside of the floor so as not to interrupt the dancers who are still working.

While it isn't your turn for across the floor, you may want to mark the dance, just so you can get a feel for the tempo. Be careful not to intrude into another dancer's space! Try practicing in your head, or with minimal movement.

While taking turns, if it is your turn, be ready and start on time. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER stop moving forward across the floor. There is a dancer behind you and if you stand in her way she is going to either make a speed bump out of you or get annoyed very quickly. If you miss a step, continue going forward so you don't mess up the people coming behind you. If I think you need it, I will pull you aside and help you. Less stopping, means more times across the floor, and more chances to get it right!

One part of learning dancing is dancing. But another is watching and learning from others. When split into smaller groups and it's not your turn, watching and encouraging your fellow dancers is part of your job as a dance student. Do not chit chat with whomever you are standing next to

So- in short- general respect for your classmates, your space, your teacher, and the art form results in a class that flows smoothly and is a whole lot more fun for everybody. Respect the instructor, your fellow classmates, and yourself.