How to Dance in Clubs

Working on the Basics

Start with a simple bounce by using your knees. Bend your knees, bringing your whole body a bit lower to the floor. Unbend your knees, moving your body back upwards. Repeat this movement up and down, maybe adding a head bounce to it as you do. Bend your knees down on the downbeat and up on the upbeat. The downbeat is likely what you think of as the main beat. The upbeat is between downbeats. So if you've heard a dance count "5, 6, 7, 8," the numbers are the downbeat.

Begin moving your feet with a step-touch move by stepping out to the right. For this move, all you need to do is start with your feet together. Step out to the right, and bring your left foot over to touch the floor next to your right foot. Then, step out with your left foot and bring your right foot over to touch the floor next to your left foot. Dance instructor Dariusz Horvath-Krol suggests "focusing on keeping your feet in time."

Add a light dipping motion to your step-touch move. Start with your knees slightly bent. As you step out, bring your body upright, then dip down again as you bring your other leg over. Straighten back up when your foot does the "touch" motion. Don't exaggerate the dipping too much. It's just supposed to be a little dip. This move just creates a light bouncing motion, which you can do in time with the music.

Cross one foot in front of the other with your step-touch move. As you bring one foot in to "touch," move it forward in front of the other foot instead. Then bring it back to where it started, and bring the other foot over and in front of the that foot. You can also use this same move, except step behind instead of forward.

Stepping up Your Dance Game

Swing your arms to the beat. As you step back and forth, try swinging your arms forward and backward along to the beat as well. Alternatively, try holding your arms bent in front of you and snapping along to the beat.

Swivel your body back and forth on your heels with your basic bounce. Move your weight to your heels. Rock your lower body side to side, just moving your toes back and forth. Keep your upper body in place. You can also swing your hips a little while doing this move.

Move around the dance floor using your basic moves. Do your step-touch move, but when you step, step backwards or forwards. Bring your other foot up to meet it for the "touch" part of the step. Keep moving in the same direction or veer off another way. Make sure to watch where you're going as you're moving around the dance floor.

Move your hips back and forth to do a dip. Place your feet together, and put your hands on the front of your thighs. Arch your back slightly and bend your knees. Dip your hips down and swing them up and to the right. Dip them down again and swing them up and to the left. Keep repeating this motion to the beat of the music. Try to keep your upper body upright instead of leaning forward.

Find your own style. Before going to the club, try turning on some music at home. Let your body naturally start doing whatever movement it feels like. As you listen to a few more songs, make that movement a bit larger, moving along to the beat. For instance, if you feel your fingers start tapping, maybe start moving that arm to the beat.

Getting on the Dance Floor

Scope out the scene to get a feel for how people are dancing. Before heading to the dance floor, do a lap around the club to check out what's going on. Take in your surroundings, watch other people dancing, and get a feel for the music. Getting comfortable with your surroundings can cut any nervousness you may be feeling. If you still feel nervous, dance instructor Dariusz Horvath-Krol suggests "taking slow deep breaths by inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth." Also, check out where people are just hanging out and talking.

Listen to the music to find the beat. Rather than focusing on what moves you should bust out, take a moment to listen to the song that's playing and notice the beat. Once you've found the beat, start bobbing your head to the music. Finding the rhythm will help you out when you start dancing. If you're having trouble finding the beat, watch the people dancing. Most of them will be moving in time to the beat.

Find a spot on the dance floor and have fun. Pick a place to slide yourself onto the dance floor. Find a little space, and start using your moves. Bob your head, try a step-touch move, or simply bounce in place. As long as you're having fun, it doesn't really matter what moves you do! Let yourself just move along to the beat. If you're a little self-conscious, try copying other people's dance moves.

Have a good time but don't get too wild with your moves. If you want to groove it is fine, but make sure you're not running into other people too much. Avoid accidentally hitting people with your arms and elbows, for instance, by keeping your dance moves under control. Keep in mind that you're packed in with a crowd of people. It may not be the best time to try out your dance that involves swinging your arms wildly around your head.

Practicing Nightclub Etiquette

Avoid touching anyone without their permission. Of course, brushing up against someone accidentally is going to happen when you're dancing at a club. However, don't grind or grope anyone else unless they've given you permission to do so.

Walk around the dance floor instead of through it. If you plow through the middle of the dance floor, you'll get in the way of people dancing. You might even cause a few collisions. Stick to the outer edge so you don't ruin anyone's fun. Plus, you may end up spilling your drink as you walk across the floor with people jostling you.

Keep your drinking in check. Of course, you're at the nightclub to have fun, and if drinking is your thing, then have some however, know your limits. You don't want to be the falling-down drunk person who needs to be shown out by the police. Try keeping it under a drink an hour.