This thread has reminded me how much I hated the clapping thing when I first started Ceroc - I felt like such an idiot clapping myself for something I hadn't done well and I couldn't even pretend the applause was for someone else because usually my partner had been pretty terrible aswell and they were feeling as silly as me.
But now I'm wondering if I've been 'conditioned' and won-over (to a degree) by the clapping phenomenon?
There are times when a 'clap' or some form of positive acknowledgement is a good thing - especially in the beginners review class where I, like others have already said, use it towards the end of the class - particularly when the group has just managed to get the routien going twice through to music! I also find it useful if I am joining in the beginners class and have danced with someone a few times on the rotation who was nervous and not very good at the beginning but who improves over the duration of the class - I then feel it's quite nice when the teacher utters 'those dreaded words' to clap my partner and smile and say 'that was really nice', or some such thing. (I do hope this doesn't sound terribly patronising?? It's certainly only meant in an encouraging and friendly way!).
I've found it's something that I've just got used to. I was originally very irritated by it, but now it doesn't bother me so much. And now, if I feel silly, I just don't clap.