Learn Dance Steps Through Speaking

When learning dance steps, it is very helpful to use all of our senses - how we see, hear, feel and move. By speaking the words, doing the actions, and feeling the results in our body movements, we will increase our ability to learn dance steps.

What this means for us is to count aloud the steps (slow, slow, quick, quick, slow) or the timing (1, 2, 3) in a strong, clear voice as we take each dance step.

This simple exercise enables the sound of our voice to match the underlying music and over time will develop our inner voice so that we do not have to say the steps out loud. This activity integrates our physical ability with our musicality. In short, it gets our feet used to the music.

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.