London Reels Etiquette Guide

We want to make sure that everyone enjoys their time at London Reels.

Whether you’re new to reeling, or are an expert, please follow these simple steps to ensure that you, and those around you, have the best night of reeling! If you’re new to reeling, some of these might not make sense just yet, but stick with it and everything will fall into place.

Once a line has been counted, respect the numbering and join in the bottom of the line.

Many of our dances occur in lines, in which you will be given a number by a committee member. If you then enter a line at this point, it messes up the numbering system, so please only join a line from the bottom of it once numbering has started! 

Remember where your set finishes and don't keep dancing once you have reached the end of your set. 

Most dances occur in sets, where you are in a group with 4 or 6 couples. In these situations, once you have danced down your set and reached the bottom of it, please stop dancing at this point. Because there are many other sets, it is easy to keep dancing into the next one, but please refrain from doing this, as it prevents other couples from getting their turn to dance! 

Be proactive in asking people to dance, and don’t ‘ghost’ people who you have agreed to dance with. 

The beauty of London Reels is that you can come alone and ask anyone to dance with you! It can be scary, but everyone was in the same situation at their first time, so don’t be afraid to ask someone to dance with you. If you do agree to dance with someone, please honour that agreement and don’t leave them lonely on the dancefloor at the start of the next dance!

If you don't know the person you’re dancing with, be mindful of how you reel with them. 

There are plenty of weird and wonderful turns and moves in reeling, and these can be really fun to do. If you are reeling with someone you don’t know, or someone who has told you they are new to reeling, please keep these exciting turns to a minimum. We want everyone to feel comfortable at London Reels! 

Be aware of your surroundings

In line with the previous point, it can be really fun to do some crazy moves with a partner that you dance with often. This is greatly encouraged, but please be mindful of those around you, especially in the 51st when it is often quite cramped and easy to bump into other people. 

Remember, many people are at London Reels to learn. Be supportive, not critical. 

Lots of beginners attend London Reels during the teaching and social sessions. We greatly encourage beginners to stay for the social and put the dances they have learnt into practice. This sometimes means that people get mixed up or make mistakes during their dances. If you are a seasoned reeler, please have patience and help them rather than criticise them. Remember, you were a beginner once too!