First of all, I wasn't sure which forum to post this in- I'm hoping this is the right one.
This happened to me on Friday night at a pub gig I attended.
[BG] I go to see a rock 'n' roll/rhythm and blues band at the same pub every month. Sometimes I go alone, sometimes my dad comes along. All of the band members, bar staff and regulars know me and I'm never short of people to talk to. There is space to dance too and there's always a great atmosphere whenever I go there. [END BG]
So, I'm sitting (alone, this time) enjoying the band playing a nice slow blues jam, when a man comes up to me and asks me to dance. Fair enough, I will dance with anyone once, even though I'm not great at partnered dancing- I like to be a good sport and join in! He takes my hand and we go on the "dance floor". Now, when I go to this place I have no intentions of going "on the pull", nor do I dress or behave in a way that would suggest otherwise. A dance is a dance to me, but this guy had other ideas....
What hits me first is the foul stench of cigarettes coming from him, which turns my stomach. Not wanting to be rude and break away mid-song, I carry on dancing but just hold my breath. The song ends, he thanks me, then.... plants a big, horrible sloppy kiss on my cheek! Eurgh! I cringe and make my way back to my seat.
The next song starts up- a faster number- and I stand up and start to dance solo. Before I know what's happening, Mr Ciggy Breath (CB) has grabbed my hand and dragged me back over the other side of the dance floor and starts twirling me around, trying to grind up against me. I really want to get away from him, but once again, I can't break away mid song. Another dance and sloppy kiss on cheek later, I ponder over whether it would be considered bad etiquette to refuse a dance (even in a pub environment). But all I can think of is that horrible smell and how uncomfortable he makes me feel.
A couple of songs later, and I am dancing with a group of people this time. All of a sudden, CB's friend comes up to me and apologises for his friend who keeps asking me to dance. I try to explain to him about the situation but the music is so loud, and before I can get my response across properly, CB appears out of nowhere, extends his hand and asks me "want to dance?" I really cannot stomach dancing with him again so, I quickly dart between them and rejoin the group I was originally dancing with. (Was I rude here?)
I sit down to sip my drink and give my feet a rest for a couple of songs, still tapping my foot to the beat. One of the regulars sits down next to me and asks me if everything is okay. I tell him what happened and he offers to be my "minder" for the rest of the night, which is very kind of him! Then he gets up to go to the bar.....
Then guess who comes up to me AGAIN? You guessed it. "Want to dance?" Extends his hand, etc.
This time, I reply with "no thank you, I'd like to sit this one out."
His reply? "Why don't you want to dance?"
I reply. "I would like to take a rest."
He then leaves my table and doesn't approach me again for the rest of the night- thank goodness!
Is there any way I could have handled this better?
Thanks!
Amy.