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.
Showing posts with label ballroom dance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ballroom dance. Show all posts
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Correcting The Dance Steps
To effectively learn new dance steps, we must commit our entire body to the step. Committing to the movement as a couple allows us to feel what the dance steps actually feel like.
This commitment will give us the feedback we need to learn and show us the mistakes that we are making. If we were to do the steps right the very first time, we would have no need to correct them. The same errors will only continue if we keep doing the same thing over and over.
We can measure our progress in dancing ability by how quickly we can correct a dance step. Like flying a plane, taking control of a dance step is a process of constant correction.
This commitment will give us the feedback we need to learn and show us the mistakes that we are making. If we were to do the steps right the very first time, we would have no need to correct them. The same errors will only continue if we keep doing the same thing over and over.
We can measure our progress in dancing ability by how quickly we can correct a dance step. Like flying a plane, taking control of a dance step is a process of constant correction.
The Body Knows How To Do Dance Steps
Although basic dance steps are easy to do, it can take some time to do the easy dance steps without conscious thinking and efforting. As new dancers we can often over-think the process and have trouble harmonizing our actions with our thinking. We know what we want to do, but can't seem to do it.
But it is vital to realize that our body actually knows what to do. All we have to do is get out of its way and let it do what it knows.
The direction we move in has more to do with the way we commit our bodies to the movements than where we place our feet. We begin a dance step by moving our body in the direction we want to go. We must commit ourselves to this movement. Just before we move our feet, our legs and feet will accommodate this forward, backward or sideways impetus of our body.
But it is vital to realize that our body actually knows what to do. All we have to do is get out of its way and let it do what it knows.
The direction we move in has more to do with the way we commit our bodies to the movements than where we place our feet. We begin a dance step by moving our body in the direction we want to go. We must commit ourselves to this movement. Just before we move our feet, our legs and feet will accommodate this forward, backward or sideways impetus of our body.
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