Our organisation offers group ballroom classes at at very reduced price as part of keeping the employees fit. My husband and have been taken these classes for several winters, having a very patient instructor with a good sense of humour.
We are taught international standard and latin on but when winter and the course ends, it's difficult to keep up practice. The international standard take up so much room that we have to break it up into bits in order to dance in our living room, latin is ok though. At social functions, venues the dance floor is tiny and packed, all we can do is to waltz box steps and turns. The quickstep, which we really enjoy is impossible, the fun part of the latin has to be dropped.

All the other couples at our dance class have the same problem and we wonder why there isn't such at thing as "social ballroom" with exciting variations which can be danced on a smaller area.

The result is that we have taken up stuff like modern jive, salsa and so on, because it makes us happy to dance socially with other happy people but it would be lovely to be able to dance the elegant stylish ballroom dances too.

Weird.

Here, everyone teaches American, whose open work takes up WAY more space than Standard. Standard is danced closed-position, while American can string way the hell out on the floor.

I like both, I know both, and that's extra fun when you go to a social and can *do* both.

At most social functions, weddings etc., the floor is too small to do much but basic latin steps. Why don't you try to find a ballroom setting for some social dancing? We dance at our studio party every week, where every dance is possible. There are a few places in town that are open to anyone but are 'strictly ballroom'. We always have room for the quickstep, waltz etc. Only international foxtrot can be a problem so we switch to American if the floor is crowded. Not everybody knows the international style here. Of course, there are always compromises in a social setting. Smaller steps and no arms. We keep them close to our bodies so not to smack anyone!

When social dancing (this is a thought I had when I went afk for diet coke) shouldn't be about which style. In the end, it should just be about dancing socially/floorcraft, etc.

Although, I don't know if this is the case for you guys, but do you have more space/time at the VERY beginning of the song, because all the old people are still sitting in their chairs deciding whether or not to two-step-shuffle to this one or not, and THEN it gets crowded as they all riiise from their graves and trudge zombie-style to the floor right in your LOD?

I've noticed sometimes if you keep frame that people have the sense to see it and are okay with it, with an occasional quick-drop of the arms to prevent a bump.

My strategy with Slow Foxtrot is to be on the floor as the dance is announced, off at the end of the intro. phrase, once around the room, and then sit down again. Half the room haven't got up, and I've had my dance.

It's our strategy too, also with Slow Waltz. After quitting while we're ahead, we often tell puzzled onlookers (e.g., DivaGinger's people still sitting in their chairs) that we're too tired to continue (having given our all during those precious moments).

BTW, one problem with dancing International Foxtrot (or Waltz) when others are doing American is that many figures in the International style require a "star" pattern (diagonal wall to diagonal center) while many figures in the American style danced by "silver" dancers (many of whom have not really learnt any Bronze level figures properly) treat the LOD as a racetrack.

E.g., just try closing your feet in International Waltz while the Silver American Waltzers simply keep passing their feet mostly in open work.

LOL- you think that's bad, try getting around the American BRONZE waltzers who STILL don't close their feet! At first, I thought they were doing slow viennese- nope, just bad footwork!

Wow - I guess you are really putting older and less experienced dancers in their place!! GOOD FOR YOU! - Ooh - wow, aren't you clever! And so FUNNY (I hope that you can comprehend the sarcasm here).
Someday when you are older, and get passed by younger and better dancers who are totally scornful of what experience and skills you may or may not have compared to them, you just may reap what you sow.
If you are a REALLY good dancer, then use your superior floorcraft to get around the floor and show some grace and compassion. That is exactly what REALLY good dancers do. Are you a good dancer - or not?
(Now - I KNOW that you must be so "dissed" (is that the right word?) by this, that you just can't resist coming after me with some ever so clever ripost. So, we all know your "style" by now and what is really behind it - so fine, "do your thing" DivaGinger - go ahead and prove that we all know your "thing.")

I don't know if its so much about old people out there shuffling.

I've seen some great old dancers. Its about the different levels of proficiency and of course the people who don't really know how to dance and aren't trying to learn.

It can be really frustrating to want to let go and just fly but have people who don't know what they are doing blocking your way. In the same breath we don't want to get rid of them. All of us have been newbies and without people, masses of people, ballroom becomes obsolete.

I think the solution is similar to what they do in Vienna when the ballroom season opens. They have venues open with multiple ballrooms, and people select the ballroom where people are dancing at their skill level. We need enough people who dance to make this possible. Surely we can all be pleasant enough to the beginners to make them want to stay so we can have a real community.

WOuldn't it be nice to actually have enough people who danced ballroom and did it well so that we can demand and expect multiple ballrooms? Am I just dreaming?

Most of the social dances that I've been to are open to the public - so attendees have to understand that there WILL be a dancers with a variety of skills and ages. So, just accept that. It's a public event. If you don't like what you find there, then don't go.
For those who complain about the age groups and skill levels that they encounter at these public dances - well, if you don't like it, then arrange for your own private, closed event: hire a dance hall or studio, find someone to act as dj, and invite only the people that are acceptable to you. Yes, sometimes they are a bit more expensive than open to the public dance events - but if you want to be exclusive, there is a price to that.