Class Social Dance: Style Sets with Free Rotation

The class holds a social dance with sets of the styles covered in the unit (salsa, bachata, merengue, swing and tango), with respectful invitations and voluntary partner changes. The goal is to carry what students learned into a real leisure setting, where each person decides who they dance with, what and how much.

How to play

1. Review the etiquette: how to invite, how to accept or decline kindly, say thank you at the end and choose your role freely (4 min).
2. A student music committee announces each set with a card that reminds everyone of the style and its basic (2 min).
3. Five sets of two songs, one per style, with a short cortina to change or keep partners; there is always an area off to the side for solo dancing or resting (18 min).
4. Closing circle: each student names one style they'd like to keep dancing, and the group reflects on the atmosphere (6 min).

Rules

• Anyone can say no, thank you without explaining, and that answer is respected.
• Leader and follower roles don't depend on gender: each pair decides.
• Contact is limited to the hands, forearms and upper back.
• Anyone can move to the solo dance or rest area at any time.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: dances every style in the wheelchair or joins the music committee.
• Autism: knows the set order in advance and can use the quiet area whenever needed.
• Visual impairment: invitations are spoken and paired with a pre-agreed tap on the shoulder.

Learning goals

• Apply respect and consent etiquette in social dancing.
• Carry the dances learned into a real leisure setting.
• Organize a dance event independently.

Equipment for a class of 25

• speaker: 1
• cards: 5

Teacher tip

Observe without stepping in, unless someone keeps getting left out; in that case, ask them to dance yourself. It makes a great closing session for the unit.

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