Well, if you stick with it you'll get over feeling intimidated. I remember feeling the same way when I started -- so many good dancers and there I was with about 4 figures per dance that I knew which wasn't all that much either. It took a little effort for me to ask women to dance, but when I did I'd usually tell them I was a beginner and didn't know much. They'd say it was OK, just dance what I know, something like that. So try doing that if it makes you feel better; I felt better giving the women a warning in advance. After a while as you get a little better and people start to know you, you won't have to warn them anymore. In my experience, the women were pretty good about dancing with beginners and I'm sure that's one of the things that helped me stay with it. Yes, sometimes attitudes change as people become more advanced dancers, but most of us remember what it was like when we were just starting out so we're pretty good about dancing with beginners. Me, I usually don't ask beginners to dance, but I won't turn them down if they ask me (unless I don't know the dance they're asking for, then I'd turn down whoever it was). But hopefully you'll find the same thing I did, that the more advanced women are pretty good about dancing with the beginner men. One tip about that though -- try not to monopolize them. People do like to dance with others around their own level so don't ask them to dance all the time. Get them once in a while, they will be able to help you out a bit, and almost everyone is willing to give anyone else at least one dance a night, just don't monopolize them. As for other points, a few good ones were named already. Try to remember what you've learned in class and do those figures. If you get them in combinations, which you should, try to remember those combos and dance them. Basically just try to practice what you've learned. If you forget a figure or something, don't worry, just work past it and keep dancing. The more practice you get, the better you'll become at dancing your figures and remembering what figures you know and can dance. Just dance what you know to the best of your ability. But most of all try to have fun.
Social dances are supposed to be fun events, so try not to take things too seriously there. Meet people, talk with them, dance with them, watch others dance, mix around and enjoy yourself. And trust me, if you stick with it, you will get over feeling intimidated. So good luck and I hope you have fun.
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James Marshall
marshall@astro.umd.edu http://www.astro.umd.edu/~marshall 
