Once we are physically in contact with our partner, our movements and physicality can disturb our partner’s movement and balance unless we take care. Accomplished dancers are aware of their dance hold and maintain it carefully throughout the dance. Here are some general notes about the dance hold and how it relates to your partner.
Become aware of where you are carrying your body weight. Where do you want your body weight as you dance? Keeping your weight forward (forward poise) or back (backward poise) may be appropriate for different dances or for the same dance at different times. Be attentive for when and how you shift your body weight and poise throughout the dance.
Your elbows stay forward of your body. If your elbows are behind your body, you won’t have enough room in your arms to be able to hold your partner. Give your partner enough room in your arms by keeping your elbows in front of your torso.
Pay attention to your alignment with your partner’s torso. In general, your shoulders are parallel or in a “V” with your partner. Your alignment with your partner changes with the dance style. Alignment varies from being not offset (in dances such as in the Argentine Tango) to slightly offset (in Latin and Swing dances) to very offset (in Ballroom dance and even more in Ballroom-style Tango dance). If you want to be an accomplished partner, you need to learn to use the appropriate hold, embrace or frame.
Be attentive to when you and your partner have body contact and where you have that point of contact. For ballroom dances, such as the Waltz or Foxtrot, remember the Five Points of Contact: First, the man’s left hand and lady’s right hand; second, the man’s right forearm/wrist supporting the lady’s left forearm near her left armpit; next, the man’s right hand on the lady’s back; next, the lady’s left hand and forearm on man’s right arm, holding his bicep with thumb and middle finger; lastly, both partners’ right sides at the ribs/abdomen.
Now that you have become aware of your dance hold, we will talk next about how to be a respectful dance partner in both your hold and your touch.
Next week: An often neglected topic.
