Leaders have an important responsibility to guide the follower through the dance. Think of leads as sherpas. Like the mountaineer guides through the Himalayans, leads must give their partners advance notice of a move and protect them on the crowded dance floors. The last two blog entries discussed dance holds. Leading is only as good as your dance hold; leading is only as good as your follow’s dance hold. Noting all the past instructions on dance holds, we are now ready to discuss leading.
There are four main types of lead:
- Weight Change: The tone in the frame and body allow the leader to convey movement through weight change and body rhythm. Follows must watch for the subtlety of their leaders’ weight changes and be ready to move with them.
- Physical Changes: The arm communicates the lead’s intentions through contraction and extension. Increased tone in the arm and movement of the hands signal to the follow.
- Visual Changes: The lead should mimic the leader as he wants to regain hold or change handholds.
- Changes in Shape: Leaders can signal with the shape of their body and arms. They can employ one of the following shapes:
- A rotation of the body,
- A clear circular shape of the arms which will lead the follower, or
- Shape changes from one dance position to another position.
When leads are aware of what their partners are watching for, they can give notice of where the dance will be taking the couple next. The follower must use their peripheral vision to be aware of changes in the tone or shape of their lead’s body. A lady who is attentively looking for all of the above four leads will make an excellent partner as she is willing to make the connection with another dancer.
Next week: Tips for effective leading. . .
Tags: connection, lead and follow, partner
