I cannot agree some of the above. Sometimes improvisation is about seizing the moment. You are hearing a track for the first time maybe and certain parts of that track make you feel like trying something new or try something you are not set up totally to do at that moment. I think you should go with that feeling.Originally Posted by Geoff332
...... improvisation can be led. Leading doesn't mean only doing moves you know - and those two shouldn't be conflated. If you want to improvise, then learn how to lead the improvisations. Or how to incorporate them into your dancing without compromising your lead. If you can't lead it, then don't do it.
At the end of the day I dance for fun. Normally the fun is experienced by leading well and feeling the connection that gives you with your follower. Sometimes you may have even more fun by seizing the moment. I have generally found that at these moments when they go right the followers level of enjoyment definately increases as well and when it does not go so well its obvious to the follower what I was trying to do, I apologise and we both generally have a good laugh about it. As yet I have never had a bad reaction in such situations. If I did my view would probabally change as I would not want to detract from the fun my follower is having at the time.
I find followers like to try new things, as long as you sensible about it. If you danced a track with one unpractised move after another obviously you are right but if in the odd track you try one thing completely off the cuff most followers appreciate it.
I do agree that once you have experienced that moment in a track you can then practise it and perfect the lead but there is nothing like the enjoyment of spontaneous leads by seizing the moment of a new tune.
As regards your tips for changing the lead etc. thank you very much. The one thing that comes to mind for me is where you talk about losing the followers hand part way though a move when you did not want the hand released. I find that very fustrating as well and generally the same follower will do this on a number of different moves. In those circumstances I will generally hold on more tightly to that followers hand, although I generally like to have a very light hand hold.
Bookmarks