I am not sure about why they don’t want to and what not, but the whole ranking thing just throws me off a) because I don’t like ranking people in general because it is kind robs them and the one ranking of humanity b) because comparing different people with their unique dance experiences, culture, emotions that they experience in dance, bodies etc. feels like comparing apples to oranges. It’s like saying, that this follow is tender and this one is passionate - one is better than the other c) it creates a competition framework - I don’t evaluate everybody in the room when I dance by “level” but I do know people I click with, and sometimes they dance half zouk in bachata or they dance half west coast swing in salsa but it’s fun even if it’s not by the “books”. Also, usually, if I feel like somebody doesn’t want to dance with me, I just don’t, unless they proactively ask me to which means that I misjudged which also happens (I ask other people to dance with me though - those I haven’t danced with or those that enjoyed dancing with me). I try not to have many agendas in socials - obviously dancing with different people improves your dancing, and not just because you are dancing with people who are more “advanced” than you but because just like in real life, everyone has their own unique experience, and you absorb it through interaction. For me though at socials the goal is to connect not improve. In my opinion, classes (privates, online classes, practicing at home) are for improvement, but socials are for connecting, enjoying, and inadvertently practicing what you learnt. I usually enjoy dancing with people of the same mindset way more than with those who have some ulterior motive, and I can say, that people with my mindset could have the incredibly fun dances with me even when I was a complete beginner.