Dancefloor etiquette: the unwritten rules of a good night

Every healthy dancefloor runs on a set of unwritten rules. Nobody hands them to you, but following them is the difference between a crowd that feels like a community and one that feels like a scrum. Here they are, spelled out.

Don't barge through the middle of the floor — go around the edges. Don't stake out a huge space with your group and block others. And if you're just chatting, drift to the sides so the people who came to dance can.

Don't badger the DJ for requests at an underground night — they've crafted a set, and trusting it is the whole point. Give the music time to build before you judge it.

Look out for people, especially anyone who seems unwell or uncomfortable. Keep your phone down — nobody remembers a night through a screen. And a little friendliness goes a long way; the best floors are warm ones.

It comes down to one idea: the dancefloor is a shared space, and everyone's night depends on everyone else's behaviour. Look after it, and it looks after you.