Lead or Follow?

[Steven666]

Which do you prefer? And if you haven't tried the other, why not?

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I personally prefer to follow at the moment simply as, for me, it's new and not restricted to just the moves I lead. And one day I might learn how to spin clockwise.

[ducasi]

I've tried following, but I'm pretty crap at it. Maybe with practice I could get better – but as I'm always going to get more work as a leader, why confuse things?

[jeanie]

I did some leading in a fun class before xmas and quite enjoyed it, although the pressure of freestyle? Erm not yet thanks!

Am going to a disco night with my friend who's just started so am going to be learning the lead for a wee while so we can dance properly to some funky music!

[fletch]

I have neaver lead, well I have a job 'just jiving'

Gerry has started to follow, I think he really likes it.

[MartinHarper]

As I'm always going to get more work as a leader, why confuse things?

Consider rephrasing that?

[Caz]

No option for me.. I love to lead and I love to follow .. it all depends on a. the song and b. my partner etc etc

There are certain people I just struggle to follow and we have amazing dances when I lead but if I had to pick one or the other then I am afraid that I couldn't decide!

[DD+]

No option for me.. I love to lead and I love to follow

[ducasi]

Consider rephrasing that?

Nope, I liked that choice of word, it amused me.

[gebandemuishond]

I'm male and I prefer to lead.

It might be because of the better appreciation that exists for good leaders, in my experience. Not to say good followers are ten a penny (they're not!) but I don't tend to find the same 'queues' forming up for them at freestyles (probably because of the general sex ratio).

Although I do love to follow as well, especially in tango.

[pointless story] The other night, I was at Nantwich and had had a couple of dances as a follower with male leads, and at some point later the teacher asked me to dance, so I naturally agreed and as we were walking out she asked me whether I'd like to lead or follow. I said I didn't really mind, but I'd prefer to lead, which seemed to surprise her (I think). I got the impression she thought I wanted to have experience following in order to improve my leading or something like that, so I explained that I followed because I like it, not because I'm on some 'self-improvement' crusade, and I think she went away with the impression I was being quite arrogant, which wasn't my intention. [pointless story/]

I personally prefer to follow at the moment simply as, for me, it's new and not restricted to just the moves I lead.

But Steve, you probably lead ALL the moves, I'd be surprised if your average MJ leader sprung a new one on you.

Dan

[Steven666]

But Steve, you probably lead ALL the moves, I'd be surprised if your average MJ leader sprung a new one on you.

Dan

Nah. The number of (what I class as) moves is going down rapidly. I'm getting forgetful in my old age. I can no longer get through a single track without some sort of repetition where I used to have no trouble a while ago.

[timbp]

Which do you prefer?

I prefer to lead. (I have very, very limited experience in following.)

And if you haven't tried the other, why not?

On one level (when I had a good leader), I have enjoyed following. And perhaps if I devoted some time and effort to it, I would learn and enjoy it.

On the other hand, I'm not good at giving up control in that way. Next you'll be asking me to be tied up in bed! (and perhaps if I devoted some time and effort to it, I would learn to enjoy it).

[Freudian Hips]

I like to follow. I lead occasionally in classes a) to help out if too many follows and b) for my own development and amusement. I have been partner dancing now for 18 months and, for me, the joy of following is using a different part of my brain to the one I use for choreographed contemporary where I know pretty much exactly what is going to happen for the next 3 minutes. I have found the follow role frees me from "and next, into that and then ...." . I may have to respond quickly but I am completely in the moment with my partner and with the music.

[Caz]

On the other hand, I'm not good at giving up control in that way. Next you'll be asking me to be tied up in bed! (and perhaps if I devoted some time and effort to it, I would learn to enjoy it).

Maybe that is why I love to lead so much.... I am a self confessed control freak....

[Jamie]

Last Saturday, I went to Orpington - Ceroc Kent for a freestyle, I spent the entire night dancing as a lead... It was a novelty.

[killingtime]

No option for me.. I love to lead and I love to follow .. it all depends on a. the song and b. my partner etc etc

I'm totally in the Caz camp. I love to lead but I enjoy following a lot too (though I think there is quite a bit of a gap in my relative skills). I've had some really lovely dances as a follower and, at times, I wish there was more opportunity for me to follow at a freestyle event if I'm just finding my dancing a bit stale as a lead.

[Tiger Pants]

I'm totally in the Caz camp. I love to lead but I enjoy following a lot too (though I think there is quite a bit of a gap in my relative skills). I've had some really lovely dances as a follower and, at times, I wish there was more opportunity for me to follow at a freestyle event if I'm just finding my dancing a bit stale as a lead.

I totally agree with you KT. I have recently started to learn to follow but apart from one or two people who have lead me, I don't really get an opportunity to practice. I believe that in the short time I have tried it though it has brought a new dimension to my style generally and I LOVE to sabotage but have even started to sabotage moves that I'm leading

So yeah, both lead and follow, though I really do need a lot more practice at following to be more comfortable.

[HelenB]

I like to follow. I lead occasionally in classes a) to help out if too many follows and b) for my own development and amusement. {snip} I have found the follow role frees me from "and next, into that and then ...." . I may have to respond quickly but I am completely in the moment with my partner and with the music.

I prefer following*

I can lead, albeit badly, but haven't stuck it out long enough to get any good . Learning to lead did give me an appreciation of how to improve as a follower though - it's amazing what you can learn by knowing what not to do

However if you do let me lead I'm afraid it's a case of arm jive, yoyo, arm jive, arm jive.....

(see I can be submissive from time to time )

[robd]

However if you do let me lead I'm afraid it's a case of arm jive, yoyo, arm jive, arm jive.....

You been taking tuition from Spice'n'Easy by any chance?

[Jamie]

You been taking tuition from Spice'n'Easy by any chance?

I did wonder why she watched you at utopia, you and your pretzels Rob!

[robd]

I did wonder why she watched you at utopia, you and your pretzels Rob!

I love a pretzel from time to time though of course some will say they are not appropriate for a COZ environment

I had a dance with SnE at utopia where we shared the lead and follow. I enjoy a bit of following but without giving it more time and effort the standard if it is so poor that it soon grows tiresome (and that's with a good lead). I was quite proud of myself for getting my spare arm out of the way nice and gracefully as SnE pulled me in only to realise it was a sway type move he was leading and the least useful place my 'spare' arm could be was on his shoulder