I'm a teenager and I do regular dancing lessons as well as social dances on Friday night. Last Friday night, there was a boy a little older than myself who was sitting down and looking a little overwhelmed. Having no partner myself, I asked him to dance. He put on a brave face but his palms told me a different story! I didn't mean to put him on the spot or make him do anything that he didn't want to. I had payed to be there and dance so I wasn't about to just sit around and wait! From now on, should I just wait for a guy to ask me to dance?

Thanks in advance for any advice given, Claire.

In this day and age it is tottaly acceptable for the lady to ask the guy for a dance. If you can muster the courage then go ahead.

Just make sure you arent the one who always does the asking :)

And with studio parties I have noticed there are certain guys who don't ask any girls for a dance so that the gorgeous instructor sees them sitting around a lot and drags them onto the dancefloor. Don't like that kind of people myself ;)

But of course you can ask a guy to dance with you. He might just be shy, insecure and be shown that "Hey we ladies dont mind dancing with you"
Ask him once, ask him twice to prove that the first time didnt scare you off, but after that he should start asking himself.

Just the views of a social dancer though :)

Here, where I dance socially the ladies do not hesitate to ask for a dance with any guy, no matter the age difference. It has become the norm for ladies to be equal to men at the dance when it comes to asking for a dance or leading a dance.
Never, be reluctant to ask for a dance, as it might be the trigger a guy needed to become a world champion dancer.
So go for it and ask him for a dance, it would be considered rude if the guy refused the dance other than taking a rest.
Asking a guy to dance falls into the category of good manners and dance ettiquete.
Up to this day I shall always remember Anne, for asking me to dance with her and taking the lead. Today I am proud to say, that I am one of the best social dancers in our part of the world, all because of a lady asking me to dance.

No, keep asking! If he's new or shy, the only way he'll get over it is to dance more. I've heard that teenagers sometimes have to ask more often, expecially if the crowd is generally older, because older guys don't want to seem to be hitting on a young girl, but they will be happy to dance with you if you ask.

What Elen says is very true. I for one do feel slightly uncomfortable asking teenage girls for a dance which doesn't mean I wont dance with them. I have asked two girls to dance myself and both only because I knew them well through group lessons.

To all the girl, lady and woman, female dancers the world over, you are all emancipated to ask a boy, gentleman, man, guy, male for a dance...after all that is what a social dance is there for...DANCING...
It does not mean that guys are free of the obligation to ask for a dance first, it is after all very good manners and politeness toward all female dancers no matter what age difference there may be...
I am a male, 56 years of age and I ask females, 13years to 85 years to dance with me, however, I am frequently asked and even booked by ladies through the age range to dance with them...some being first timers and beginners.
We all were beginners and some have advanced to being champions...

So, ladies when asking for a dance, look the guy straight in the eye and ask "shall we dance"...the worst that can happen is that he refuses(mostly because he's shy)...if he does, don't be dismayed move on to the next guy and ask him to dance...You may most probably have broken the ice for a very long lasting dance relationship wich shall span many,many years...
Happy dancing ladies, ask if he doesn't...!

I'm a shy woman by nature but no way am I going to sit the night away at a dance. There are always more women than men and if I don't ask men,I don't dance much. Talk about going out of my comfort zone! Yes, I've been refused by guys who are tired from dancing nonstop or men who dance only with their wives. (My husband is home watching tv.) I asked my teacher who owns the studio if it was proper for me to ask men and he said yes.

The way you ask is important whether it be a lady or a man.. I would give a bright Hello and say Would you like to dance this Waltz with me. If there were two ladies sitting together I would ask one and say to the other, can I ask you later. Having a sense of humour I can't resist if asked Are you dancing, fom saying, No I always walk like this. And then whisk them off to the floor.

This passed weekend, I have followed Anonymous'way of asking ladies the way it was suggested by him and it worked so perfectly... Not only did it leave the second and third lady in anticipation to dance, it made the evening bussier for them because I encouraged them to ask the men for a dances... Not one single dance was denied them by the gentleman and at the end of the evenings dancing, smiles of satisfaction abounded and friendships were forged... That is what social dancing is for ie. men asking the ladies to dance and ladies asking men to dance. How nice..!

When there is more than one lady in the vicinity, I find a "neutral" way of asking is: "Would any/either of you ladies like to dance?" and leave them to work it out among themselves.