by Luana

Created on: April 06, 2007   Last Updated: May 08, 2007

Dancing is movement to a rhythm. Dancing with a partner involves adapting to their rhythm or vice versa. Generally the leader will command his/her rhythm thus you know he/she is the leader here. Also the reason why professional dancers tend to have fixed partners since they become comfortable with the person's rhythm/style and can move along with them by predicting their next move all the time.

Someone who dances often and well will easily adapt to the leader's movements and be able to flow without difficulty so usually people say they have "light feet".
However someone who is now learning or find dancing difficult will need a good leader.

Tips for Leading -leader must

-Hold partner firmly by hand and around waist. Not in suggestive manner but in the effort to move the person along.

-To start you tell partner "I will lead try to follow" to establish leader position well unless you do not want them to be offended but can be subtle /courteous about it.

-Reassure your partner they are doing fine.

-Sing or hum the tune to get your partner to relax into the music.

-Do not be rigid yourself but be relaxed.

-Then gently but firmly move your partner right or left back or front in a particular rhythm to the music so that they will catch what you expect them to do then slowly introduce more movement.

-Can use your knees on the side of other person gently to indicate backward,forward sideways.

-Can also use your feet to keep person in position-have the other person try to keep one of their feet in center of both of yours and other one outside close to lateral side of yours. In some dances the lateral feet of both partners touching side by side can be used to guide the follower eg firm press is forward and relax feet is backward.

-Most of all let it be fun people relax and follow thus flow better in a relaxed enjoyable environment.

Do try partner-dancing if you have never done so it is so much fun and exercise all in one.

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