In the USA Dance Chapter 2063, a few of us wondered if pure ballroom still existed. Then I saw an ad for the Quad Dance Club — four seasonal dances, all partnered. What I found was rare and refreshing: a floor dedicated entirely to connection. Ballroom dance depends on touch and etiquette. A hand extended, a gentle lead, a responsive follow — these gestures foster trust, rhythm, and tradition. Touch isn’t just decoration; it’s the language of ballroom itself, and dance etiquette often seems to be overlooked.
However, in some venues, people resist touch — preferring solo steps or line dances. Psychology points to attachment styles, cultural norms, or personal comfort shaped by past experiences. But when the “untouch” enters the ballroom floor, harmony breaks down. Partnered dances rely on shared rules. A Tango disrupted by a line dance invasion is like a kazoo in a string quartet — lively, maybe, but out of place. Ballroom etiquette exists to preserve the flow, safety, and identity of the dance. Ballroom dancing is built on touch. A floor designed for partnered dancing must stay true to this principle. Line dances and solo improvisations belong elsewhere; they break the flow, disrupt etiquette, and weaken the ballroom’s character. Even more, some of the most authentic dancers who come for traditional ballroom might decide not to return.
Ballroom dance exists to foster connection — every dance is partnered, and every step is part of a shared conversation. Those who prefer not to be touched are welcome to enjoy their rhythm elsewhere, but not here. This is ballroom, and ballroom is touch.
At this Quad dance, we experienced ballroom dance perfection. We left inspired — eager to return to uncover their secrets. We saw their band, Spicy Rhyme, a seasoned duo/trio that provided live entertainment for the occasion. The members are from central Ohio. I learned that this band plays a wide range of music styles, takes great pride in matching the right music to the venue or audience, and they were on target for us.
The Quad club was founded at the end of the Big Band era in 1946 by someone whose name has been forgotten. The goal has always been to offer a formal, exclusive dinner dance evening with a social hour and a live band. The objective was and still is to showcase and promote ballroom dancing. The idea was to have four formal dances, which gave rise to the name QUAD.
The evening was further enhanced by a delightful buffet prepared by Chef Zouheir “Chef Zou” Kahwaji, whose culinary talent has become our favorite since we experienced it last summer.
Quad shows that ballroom can still be pure. Partnered dances, live music, and formal elegance—all combined to keep the true spirit of the art alive. In a world where distraction often intrudes, Quad remains a beacon of real connection. This is ballroom as it was meant to be, and we will return to celebrate it again.
