Ditto for the U.S. but here it tends to be square dancing, particularly Western Square Dancing (Caps as typed and spoken) vs. folk dancing. The Western Square Dance clubs are ferociously couples oriented (and I wonder what on earth do they do with the heavy percentage of widows in their usual age bracket?), have levels of learning, and you are expected to be well schooled in whatever level it is or don't get out on the dance floor.

A friend who has been part of the contra dance community, as well as being an avid English Country dance participant and Scottish Country dance enthusiast was invited by a couple to go with them to a square dance "club." It wasn't until she was there that she was told that, of course, she wasn't going to be permitted to dance, because she didn't "know" all the moves. "It's not like it was brain surgery or there were any fancy moves & they had a caller... there wasn't a thing I couldn't have done if I were out on the dance floor" she remarked in shocked indignation.

Folk dance here mostly means the contra scene which tends to include not just contras, but squares -southern and northern styles- and circle mixers, welcome newcomers always. English & Scottish country dance tend to be likewise welcoming, with getting newcomers started with the moves and footwork generously. What goes on with Irish ceili dancing varies a bit, from prompted dances to evenings where you are expected to know the dances (much as one would for a Playford Ball in ECD).

The bottom line is... do you truly WANT to dance with people with such a bad attitude?

Joanne in Cleveland