Why do ladies stand offset to the right?

By Fredric Frennessen

I was recently approached by a TV researcher from the BBC’s children channel CBeebies asking if I was able to assist them with a feature they were planning to air. They often make a clip called Let’s Play, teaching the children about different subjects and on this occasion CBeebies wanted to do a feature on Ballroom Dancing.

Among the questions I got from the researcher was why do ladies stand offset to the right in Ballroom dancing? I had always thought it was something to do with us dancing anti clockwise, but wasn’t entirely sure myself, so I started to ask around.

The question was put on a dance educational forum on Facebook and not long after, answers started to drop in from around the world.

Lady to the right – Picture by Christian Wulff

There were those who subscribed to the idea of a solider having the sword on the left side and as such the lady would be more comfortable standing offset to the right. There was also a reference to the fact that the solider was stronger on the right hand and the lady would as such be safer. The sword however was symbolic as it would not have been present during the ball/dance.

It gets a little more complicated… The people/military were of a higher rank in the society and didn’t dance in hold, but side by side or in front of each other.

Other comments on the forum was that the hold was instigated by the lower class in society. In folk dances a close hold was normal. Often both hands of the man were placed on the hips of woman. But for right turns, the comfortable ones, it was easier to lead with the right arm around the waist. (Left turns were forbidden by the church). This theory is also plausible as we dance anti clockwise and it is easier having the lady offset to the right when we turn to the right.

So in essence, I am afraid I still have no conclusive answer and I guess the truth is somewhere in the mix. The discussion was light hearted and the pictures uploaded made me giggle.