The good news is that most students are mostly courteous in class.  The bad news is that it only takes one self-absorbed and distracted individual to disrupt the learning process for everyone.
 
Based on the kinds of issues I've seen in the classroom, I've compiled the following suggestions for appropriate behavior in class.  Many are standard rules in a lot of dance studios and most are simply common courtesy: respecting others who have also paid for the same class you are taking, and treating them the way you yourself would wish to be treated (and treating the studio the way you wish guests would treat your house).  Some of the following may be obvious to you, and some not, but following these guidelines can go a long way towards contributing to everyone getting the most out of coming to class, whether it's a large one or small one.  As you will see, it's mostly common courtesy.

Classroom Guidelines

Please BE ON TIME!  Not only is it disruptive to show up late, but you will miss part of the warmup, which is an essential part of class.

Please turn off and refrain from using cellphones during class.

No food or drinks in the classroom; only water.  (Sticky soda spills, crumbs, or oil do not improve our dancing surface.)

No gum chewing or eating during class.  (We don't want anyone to choke.)

First come first served:  If you want your choice of a spot in the classroom, get there early. When you choose your spot initially, make sure you are not taking a spot directly in front of another dancer and therefore blocking her/his sight lines to the teacher or to their reflection in the mirror.  If you arrive late, please position yourself behind others who were there before you.

Leaving your hip scarf or other item on the floor to mark your spot is ok only until class starts.  Once class starts, if you are not in your spot, you forfeit your spot. (Your marking item will  be removed from the floor.)

Once class starts, please do not park water bottles (or notebooks, or anything else for that matter) anywhere on the dance floor where other dancers may trip over them.  You may leave these items along with any other personal belongings at the side or back of the room.  If you need to write notes, go to the side or back of the room to do so, then rejoin the class in your spot.  Don't stand in the middle of the dance floor writing notes & forcing others to dance around you.  This is not only discourteous, it can cause an accident.

Maintain your position.  Once you establish your spot in the class, it is your job to maintain that position:  in other words, your spatial relationship to the teacher and the other dancers.  Spatial awareness is an important skill for any dancer, and the best practice you will ever have is during classes. 

It is not acceptable to float around the room during class looking for a better spot. This forces others to move to accommodate your new position.   If you are unhappy with your spot during class, you can find a new spot behind all others.  It is not polite to step in front of others, even if you think you can dance there without getting in their way (you can't).  And next time get to class earlier so you can have your spot of choice.

If you need to leave your spot during class for any reason, you may return to your same spot;  however, it would be polite to wait to return to your spot at a logical break in the action (like the end of a song or exercise) rather than dodging dancers to get to your spot.  You will notice the polite dancers will rejoin the class at the back of the room until a logical break presents itself to return to their spot.

If you wear beaded/ coined hip scarves, please make sure they are not shedding beads or coins that you or others may step or slip on during the course of class.  If your hip scarf starts shedding during class, please remove it. 

Please don't talk during class, especially while the teacher is explaining something, even if you think you already know what she/he is talking about, or even if a different student is being addressed.  Your talking may prevent someone who needs the information from hearing it, and in any case, you may learn something new yourself if you listen.

Noisy hip scarves are fun, but not all classes permit them.  If they are permitted, please be considerate & keep the hip jangling to a minimum especially during the quiet moments when the teacher is explaining something or someone is asking a question, so everyone can hear.

Please do not offer your help & instruction to another student during a class.  While you may believe that you know how to help the other student, your engaging with that student can be disruptive to the class, and can, in fact, change that student's focus from what the teacher actually wants the student to concentrate on.  If the other student has a question, she/he should ask the teacher for assistance.

If you have suggestions or requests regarding how the class is conducted, please discuss them with the teacher after class.

Please try to keep the dressing rooms, bathrooms, and the studio orderly and make sure you take all your belongings with you when you leave, including empty water bottles.

Above all, it doesn't hurt to smile and be pleasant to your fellow dancers.  Maybe you've had a horrible day, but when you step into class, your fellow dancers will all thank you for leaving your private issues at the door. 

Karima Nadira