Very complimented

I would be flattered to be asked too, and you shouldn't even hesitate.

I think that modern social dancing has become fairly anti-social! It is understandable that a couple may choose or prefer to dance with each other for most of an evening - particularly if they are practising, but I think that dancing with just one partner, exclusively, is NOT good for anyone, and we should all make a point of dancing with several people, each time we go out.

I am not, of course, refering to competitive dance sport, which is something very different - but only a few compete, but many dance.

Women should feel free to ask men, taking into consideration the same kinds of things that men should be considering when asking women.

In other words, don't pull someone out of the arms of their date, do approach as an invitation rather than a demand and give them the opportunity to decline, and consider how often it may be appropriate to dance with a given person during an evening (which of course depends a lot on the two people involved)

I think in general it is OK as long as it is stated in a way that the person you ask can decline without either of you feeling uncomfortable.

But if you are like me, older, plump, and short be prepared to see some of the men "wince" when asked. I note they do not wince when the pretty and younger gals ask them--so sometimes it is best to not ask. @@

That said, occasionally asking will lead to a really great dance!

"But if you are like me, older, plump, and short be prepared to see some of the men "wince" when asked. I note they do not wince when the pretty and younger gals ask them--so sometimes it is best to not ask."

My experience is that most of the pretty young girls at ordinary socials can't dance. Occasionally you see exceptions, but they are usually new and unaware of the situation they have just walked into. The ones who can dance quickly get tired of the kind interest they get from old men who aren't really interested in dancing per se, and so stop attending.

Prejudice based on appearance happens of course (the above is an example), but generally once it becomes clear that someone can actually dance, the others who are actually there for dancing will notice. But there is no guarantee that on a given night there will be anyone at all of the opposite role who is fundamentally there for dancing.

Where I dance the cute young things are all in their early 20's and CAN dance. Some of them very well. The local university dance club comes to classes with the teacher from whom I take classes.

Even though I keep improving, I am not as athletic as these much younger and quite talented young women.

Hence, with a constant shortage of guys who dance, many wince when faced with someone like me.

Thanks everyone! I'm not worried about people not liking how I look (I am short, but I'm not plump or old, and I can dance! )... just worried that guys might not like this approach. By the way, not sure if this varies depending on the type of dancing, but I do mostly latin, and rarely ballroom. So not sure if it's a macho thing and not acceptable when most dancers are latin.

When my wife and I started dancing a few years ago, the first woman to ask me to dance asked my wife if she could dance with me. I now do the same if the woman appears to be there with a date. When I am asked, I always say yes. Dancing with others improves ones dancing.

My wife likes to say to me "OK, I've danced two rumbas with you, let's dance with someone else."

Leader here.. I am finding it pretty rare for me to ask someone to dance. There are generally more followers than leaders and making the move to ask someone to dance is the only way to get off the sidelines.

The advice by Anymouse is absolutely correct. In any circumstance when it would be appropriate for a guy to ask a woman to dance, it's also appropriate for a woman to ask a guy to dance. My wife and I generally dance together, but we are both flattered when asked to dance by others, and neither of us would think of saying no absent some emergency. The only time I wince is when I'm asked to dance by someone who can dance at a level far above mine and that's an issue about being embarrassed on the dance floor and not appearance.