How to Lead Dance Steps

For men, leading is one of the fundamentals of learning to ballroom dance (along with knowing how to do the steps and how the frame feels when doing it right). Learning to lead is a skill that can be learned.

What do we mean by leading? A lead is initiating, creating and planning ahead which dance pattern we will be doing. As the leader, we determine the direction the couple dances in and which dance steps we do.

The leader needs to understand the dance pattern and how it is led so that they can relay the dance steps to their partner. To teach the steps to others, we first need to be proficient ourselves. Once the steps are learned, the music leads the dance couple.

We can ensure a firm lead by maintaining a good posture, gently pulling and pushing our partner with our hands, and, most importantly, aiming to move as one on the dance floor.