JUST LIKE ON A DANCE FLOOR, EVERY COLLEGE EXPERIENCES VARYING LEVELS OF STUDENT ENGAGEMENT. Engagement between those fully involved (student leaders) and those lurking on the edge (apathetic students). The same tactics to make an energetic dance floor also work to increase engagement within any college or student group. DANCE FLOOR THEORY™️ provides student leaders and advisors a new model for creating community, increasing student engagement, and fostering a culture of retention.

5. A B
Which is the Better Dance?

6. More Friends = More Fun
DFT LESSON #1

9. LEVEL 1
What’s the most ridiculous

10. bricks.”
“I’m building
a doorway.”
“I’m building
a stadium.”

11. LEVEL 2
Why is it important for YOU
to be at this retreat…

19. Dance
Better
Brain
Best
Campus

20. Dance Floors &
Campuses
Act The
Same Way

21. Dance
Floor
Theory
The
Dance
Floor

22. N
E
U
T
R
A
L
S
5
4
3
2
1
The Action’s In The Middle

23. “I’m bored.”
“I’m tired.”
“This is stupid.”

24. Hey you sexy thang
don’t you ever die!

25. Higher
Grades
Higher

28. E
U
T
R
A
L
S
5
4
3
2
1
The Action’s In The Middle

29. Everyone Has Potential
regardless of where they are
on the dance
fl
oor

30. Get Their
ATTENTION
Build The
CONNECTION

31. Don’t try and take someone from the edge to
the center if they aren’t ready
Engagement Is A Process

32. The 2 Big Myths
#1
“5s”
are
extroverts

33. Scary
Sixes
that does more harm than good.
have an energy level

34. The 2 Big Myths
#2
“5s”
are in the
center
#1
“5s”
are
extroverts

35. Groups
Anywhere
Act The
Same Way

37. N 1 2 3 4 5
The Action’s In The Middle

38. of students will never
participate in a college
sponsored activity.
60-84%

39. Bad Dance Good Dance
Good Campus
Leadership
Opportunity
N 5
4
3
2
1
N

40. {
60-84%
1
2
3
4
Neutrals
5

41. 1
2
3
4
Neutrals
Our Goal 5

42. 1
2
3
4
Neutrals
Meh.
What’s in it
for me?
Hmmm . . .
5

43. 5
1
2
3
4
Neutrals
Meh.
What’s in it
for me?
Hmmm . . .
5

44. 1
2
3
4
Neutrals
5
What am I
capable of?

45. 1
2
3
4
5
What’s next
for me?

46. 1
2
3
How can I
help?
4
5

47. {
Current
Activities
1
2
3
4
5
Neutrals

48. 1
2
3
4
Neutrals
5
{
Current
Activities
{meh.
60-84%

49. 1
2
3
4
Neutrals
5
meh.
hmm…
X+1

50. Maybe

57. fi
rst step,
is to get them to
pay attention.

58. The RED BALL Project

59. Moving
someone from
‘Meh’ to ‘Hmm’
can happen without you

60. The Goals
Build
Relationships
Meh-to-Hmm

61. Don’t Over-Complicate
A Simple Introduction

63. Anything
Is Fun As
Long As
You Have
NUMBERS and/or RELATIONSHIPS

64. If someone asks you “What’s going on?”
you’ve successfully moved them
from “Meh” to “Hmm”

65. - Bring It To Them
- Positive Reaction
The Rules

66. Confusion is
Good
Scaring is
Bad

67. The Rules
- Bring It To Them
- Positive Reaction
- Connect The Dots

69. The Rules
- Bring It To Them
- Positive Reaction
- Connect The Dots
- It’s Cheap

75. Everyday
Objects
Can Create
a Culture
of Engagement

76. Fun is the
easiest way
to change
people’s
behavior
for the
better.

77. The Rules
- Bring It To Them
- Positive Reaction
- Connect The Dots
- It’s Cheap

78. Campus Traditions are the Social Habit
of Student Engagement.

79. Change the
bus driver’s
attitude…
Change the
whole bus’
attitude.

80. Don’t Mix
Marketing
With
Relationship
Building.

82. Clearly
Alone
#2 Joins In, But…
He’s
There
For Laughs
#3 Joins In, And…
They
Start To
Multiply
EXPONENTIALLY

83. 20%
Will Follow
70%
10%
THE TIPPING POINT
STOP BEING
#1
START BEING
#2 or #3

84. Find a
Parade
and
Support
It

86. Introduce People to Each Other
The Steps
Introduce Yourself

87. and
more
on the
introductions
that happen
at the activity
Focus less on the activity

88. The Steps
Make Small Relevant Groups
Introduce People to Each Other
Introduce Yourself

89. Introductions are more e
ff
ective
when there’s a common thread

90. The Steps
Get Out Of The Way
Make Small Relevant Groups
Introduce People to Each Other
Introduce Yourself

91. It’s not about you. It’s about them
connecting with each other.
After you make an introduction,
get out of the way.

93. Be The Spatula

94. Building Culture Takes Time.
Be Patient.

96. 5
4
3
2
1
0

97. Tom@SwiftKickHQ.com
@TomKrieglstein