If they say no, respect it. Try to cheer yourself up by dancing with your friends or asking another person to dance. Remember, a rejection doesn’t say anything bad about you. It just means the other person wasn’t feeling in the mood.

If you’re much shorter than your partner, and can’t reach his shoulders, just put your arms on their upper arms. Or, stand on your tiptoes.

If you don’t know your dance partner, it’s respectful to keep a bit more distance between you two.

Slow songs often don’t have a loud, pounding drumbeat, but they still have a rhythm. If you were going to snap along to the song, each snap would be a beat. [5] X Research source Don’t worry if you’re not swaying perfectly to the rhythm, though. Your partner may be able to adjust your swaying, and anyway, the point is to enjoy each other’s company.

It’s probably too intense to stare into your dance partner’s eyes for the whole song. Feel free to look over their shoulder and around the room for a while, so long as you come back to looking at them pretty often.

If you want to spend more time with your dance partner, you can ask if them if they want to dance again, or if they want to join you to get a drink or a snack.

If your partner doesn’t know what you’re talking about, because they’ve never waltzed, it’s probably best if you lead, and they follow along. Learn the basic box step, and then start the box step on a different foot for a lead or follow. [8] X Expert Source Lorena Bravo, MAProfessional Dance Instructor & Competitor Expert Interview. 19 May 2020. [9] X Expert Source William OrrockProfessional Dancer & Instructor Expert Interview. 5 July 2022. Once you’ve learned the box step, you can put it together by dancing with your partner.

This is the foot to start with if you’re leading. But even if you’re following, you can learn the whole box step and then later choose to start on a different foot.

Waltz is a very graceful dance, so don’t high step when you’re moving your feet. Keep them low to the ground and you’ll look like a pro.

Don’t worry if you don’t get it at first. Keep practicing, and it will get easier!

Practice starting at the part of the box where you step back with your right foot. That’s where the follow starts.

Place your left hand on the lead’s right shoulder if you are the follow. Your left arm should be resting on the lead’s arm. The lead should be holding your right hand. The follow should be slightly offset, a little to the left of the lead, so that when the follow steps forward their right foot goes in between the lead’s two feet. [17] X Research source

Don’t be afraid to step directly into the space where your partner is standing. They will be out of the way by the time you step there! Time your 1-2-3, with a Down-Up-Up movement. Bend your knees to dip slightly down on the 1st downbeat, and then stand taller on the second two counts. This will give the waltz a graceful rise and fall. [19] X Research source

The basic step is very simple: Step to the right with your right foot, then bring your left foot to touch it. Step left with your left foot, and bring your right foot to touch it. Rock back with your right foot, shift your weight to your left foot, and step forward with your right. There you have it! Just keep going “side-and-side-and-rock-step”.

For the basic step: step forward with your left foot. Shift your weight onto your right foot. Bring your left foot back to be parallel with your right foot. Step back with your right foot, shift your weight, and bring it back to center.

To lead an outside turn, raise your left hand high and send your partner underneath. [21] X Research source To lead an inside turn, bring your left hand across your body and spin it like a halo over your partner’s head. [22] X Research source