| Ooh excellent! Would you mind if I sabotaged your thread just a little to name some personal gripes (sorry, tips)?
I say sabotage, because the things below are not really suitable for a beginners' tips list - although the vast majority do apply to new dancers. And also, I don't generally like lists of negative instructions i.e. don't do this, don't do that … (which, I'm afraid, is exactly what I've done here!)
But it's just things which I wish I could say to guys, and usually don't dare …. Though I by no means wish to sound as if I'm complaining - I'd certainly welcome hints and tips (ok, gripes and grievances) that leaders may want to give to followers.
- Bear in mind that a lady can have an excellent dance with just beginner moves. Don't worry about trying to do a huge variety of moves, or particularly complicated moves, before you're comfortable with leading the basics.
- Try and keep your hands and arms steady, in order to be able to give a clear lead to the lady. Keep your arms low, unless you're leading a move that requires a shoulder- or head-level lead.
- Don't lead with the shoulders - try and lose the tension in your neck and shoulders. Most leading can be done with a gentle hand and steady arm.
- You usually have much more time than you think - don't rush through moves and get ahead of the music.
- If you think you're behind the music, don't grab onto or snatch at the lady's hand in an attempt to catch up. If necessary, slow the move down and catch the next beat/phrase.
- Don't move in constant clockwise circles throughout the entire dance. Also, focus on the front/back or side walls, and try to end up facing one of them at the end of each move.
- Don't start the lady spinning, and then move away to begin your next move. It can be pretty hard for her to locate you again if you've changed position. Wait in front of the lady until she has finished her spin and is facing you again.
- If you're constantly taking big steps or moving round in circles and the lady is having trouble making contact, please don't say, 'Where were you?'
- Don't shove a lady into a spin twice as hard, and tell her she's going to do a double. This will usually just send her off balance.
- If a lady didn't manage to do a move as you'd expected, please don't stop the dance to tell her how to do it correctly. If you wish to do that, wait until the end of the dance.
- It's quite distracting to hear a running commentry throughout the dance, telling her what move you're going to do next. Most moves should be leadable without verbal assistance.
- Pleeeese don't say: 'Now give me a sexy walk …'/'Now do this sexily …'
- Please don't chew gum when you're dancing. Particularly if you're doing moves where you position your head close to the lady's, and all she can hear is your chewing!
Oops, sorry this has turned into such a big list! As I said, I don't want to sound as if I'm moaning. Most guys are wonderful to dance with. It's just that these same things keep coming into my head time and time again.
Any good tips for followers, then?
Rachel |