This thread follows on from the previous thread for follower's improvisations.
Does anyone have suggestions on what kinds of things are best for a follower to do to support improvisations from a leader?
--ooOoo--
Age is a question of mind over matter, if you don't mind, it doesn't matter
Leroy (Satchel) Paige (1906-1982)
Mickey Mouse's girlfriend, Minnie, made her film debut, along with Mickey, in "Steamboat Willie" on November 18, 1928.
That date is recognized as her official birthday.
Copy them, as Minnie says, or reply in 'kind'. If they're a bit hip hoppy, reply in a similar language or something that complements it. Using the dance as a conversation analogy again if you're getting along great, your body language reflects each other.
Another thing is to try to find what they're listening and responding to in the music - then you can be on the same page and respond in your own way to the same things.
I know it sounds obvious, but follow ... properly! Don't try and anticipate or backlead because you just don't know where you're going to end up. I know I am sometimes a bit guilty of these but I'm trying to improve because I dance a lot with someone who improvises A LOT! Occasionally I find myself on autopilot, but I do think (hope!) I'm getting better.
From time to time I get the confidence to improvise, it tends to just happen really rather than anything planned. However, I always get my confidence knocked back again when followers point out what I did wrong!
I took 3 beats to open out a first move last night, because it fitted at the time. The lady I was dancing with, refused to slow and told me I should work on my balance, then I'll be able to keep up!
Also, with another lady last night, I did a left handed comb, placed her hand on my chest and led her backwards in a Tangoish style. It worked really well and fitted the music. She proudly told me "you did that move all wrong". What move? I wasn't doing moves at the time?
Then of course, I get the opportunity to dance with you lovely ladies from the forum, who I'm sure would welcome improvisation, and I go to pieces!
Did she pat you on the head and say "Well done" at the end of the dance too?
For me, I'd say that "auto-speed" tendency of some (most) followers is the worst thing - especially when they insist on hopping from foot to foot when I'm specifically trying to lead weight changes...
I usually get round this by leading lots of walkarounds / wraps - they allow me to control the tempo of the follower.
Lots of followers don't actually follow, in other words. Of course, I'm sure even more leads don't lead, but that's not my problem
She might as well have done
The left handed comb/tango walk incident, I didn't even bother trying to lead the weight change, I signalled my intention, felt which foot she was stepping back on and quickly changed my weight. I thought that was probably the easiest way.
To be fair, if you don't know what a leader is doing when they are trying to lead weight changes, you can just think they are trying to pull you off balance.
Or they sit down on a chair to 'watch' their partner in the middle of the dance
PS Gav just hit 2000 posts - well done!
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