I love the high that I get from dancing and I love to watch others dance also. I've been very fortunate in visiting different countries, making new friends and having many a deep discussion with followers and leads about raising their own level of pleasure and enjoyment within their dancing.
So I thought it maybe useful to present some of the comments, tips and pointers I have picked up along the way and share those experiences with you. The focus is on "following" more effectively, rather than a debate on the "leads" role within the dance.
....Trisha (aka Brown Suga)
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THE FRUSTRATED LEAD
I wanted to give leads the opportunity to discuss openly with me what THEY felt to be key areas in which followers could improve their effectiveness. In an effort to make it simple, I've picked out 6 of the common issues discussed. Please note that these comments don't apply to all followers!!
- Some followers seem to assume steps and patterns and are therefore on "automatic pilot", they dance through patterns because they are familiar with the steps, not allowing the lead to place them, add variations or different rhythm patterns to the dance.
- Even the best/advanced leads find it difficult to lead a follower who demands too much control within a dance. e.g. he wants her to do a slow spin and she wants to get in as many spins as possible. The lead then has to shift his attention and focus to controlling the dance by applying a more forceful lead, than enjoying it.
- Many followers are unaware that they are "back leading" They show this by being slightly ahead in the dance regardless of whether the lead is ready for them or not. What followers are really doing is preventing their partner from making choices and being in control of the dance.
At the time their partner tries to apply a lead, their weight has already transferred to the next foot, leaving him no choice other than to step in the same direction.
- Much of the time, followers that back lead are usually quite nervous and tense and so if they relaxed a little more and be patient by waiting, the dance would be more enjoyable for both parties.
- Some followers tend to look away from their partner, missing the lead or unable to react to his body language, so it is more difficult to lead when there is little or no eye contact.
- Some followers don't have enough tone/frame in their upper bodies coupled with limp hands and fingers which makes it difficult to maintain connection within the dance.
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THE RESPONSIVE FOLLOWER
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- Followers must train themselves to wait for the leader's signal to begin dancing even if that signal takes a long time to arrive. Follow your hand(s). If it moves, follow it with the rest of your body. Try it and see if this works for you.
- Check your posture;make sure that you are poised with your hips slightly back.
Slouching into the ground will make you heavy and difficult to move. Raise your upper body and be ready for the direction to start.
- Maintaining a degree of resistance in your arms will help you to quickly respond to changes in the leader's body movements.
Remember that following is not a passive activity. You must be actively involved in receiving information from the leader and responding to his cues.
- A great way to discover what is needed to be a good follower is to become a leader. While you are leading you will understand first hand what leaders are looking for in their dance partners.
- If your partner is not giving you a clear direction to move somewhere, DON'T. Do some body isolations in place if appropriate.
Watch what your partner is doing for a clue. Learn when and how to wait until you get a clear direction to move again.
- A follower should not dance with her head, but with her senses. She should not think about what to do next. Instead she should relax, be balanced, be patient, be ready, and focus on the leader's body language. The follower should flow with her partner, she should be attuned to his body motion, keep up with him but never get ahead of him.
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TOP 3 "DONTS" ON FOLLOWING
DON'T MAKE FACES...
Women tend to be more expressive by nature. The next time you're out, take a look at some of the expressions other followers are making whilst dancing and you'll be surprised.
You can tell at a glace which followers are bored, angry, frustrated, panic-stricken...whatever. This can be very disconcerting for leaders.
No matter what's going on inside, make sure that you have a smile or other pleasant expression on your face.
I think you'll find that a smile will help you to feel and dance better as well as making your partner happy. It's a win-win situation.
DON'T ACCUSE..
the leader of misdirecting you. While I've heard it said many times that the leader is responsible for what happens on the dance floor, hurling accusations at the leader when things go wrong accomplishes nothing.
When a dance pattern is not working, first I find out what it is exactly that he wants you to do. Then think about what you need to feel in terms of a lead to accomplish that. Whether it's extra compression, a slight push forward on my shoulder.
Followers, before you accuse your leaders of making you look bad on the dance floor, think about how much more exchanging information will accomplish.
DON'T ASSUME...
you know every move the leader will make from the moment he takes your hand.
Ladies, please start each dance with a blank slate that is waiting to be written upon by the leader. Assume nothing. He is limited by his own level of technical, stylistic and improvisational skills, as well as those of his partner. If he is an advanced dancer, he will use many different patterns, mix them up randomly and sometimes combine one or more into intricate ad hoc creations.
He is influenced by the music and the rhythm, by his mood, by the flow and density of the traffic on the dance floor, and by the ability of his partner to flow with him. And lastly, he is energized by that special dynamic, that energy and synergy that can exist between two dancers.
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