We're not far from Birmingham, and were almost halfway there this past weekend. Our area's just started a USABDA chapter, and I hadn't been exposed to it's inner workings before. It's interesting so far.
The worry/not-worry about technique, head, etc. is where people's personal preferences for enjoying dance vary.
I wouldn't think of worrying about proper frame and the smaller nuances of technique all the time- especially not in a social setting. That's what practice is for, to us. Work on it all we can there, so that we *don't* have to worry as much about anything but having a good time at a social. Then, yes, it *is* more relaxed/conversational. Our coaches imparted that to us very early on- during practice-specific "parties", groups, etc., they'd correct and teach and help- but at the same studio on a Friday night "actual party", they wouldn't "teach" anything other than something that really needed to be corrected to make sense and make something work.
We've been blessed to have several floors in the area which are accommodating to slowfox, and honestly, there aren't that many people filling the whole floor, so it's not been a problem. No, we wouldn't be dumb enough to try something like that in the one studio whose floor is about the size of a storage locker, for the record.
Clive's be early, be quick, get done strategy works for the seniors' dances around here. It's sad, but it takes a lot of them that long to realize "Oh- another country two-step" and start creeping and dragging up out of the chairs like a zombie scene. After everyone's on the floor, we slow down some, and then just practice weaving in and out- several couples in our area "play back" with us, and it's a LOT of fun. You never know when someone's going to come up, "accidentally" bump into you, and steal your hairclip, or if you're sitting at a table and someone comes by and pretends they have no brakes. But then, I'll say it again- we're all crazy here.
