It is very easy to immediately think of all those things that I don't want in a dance but not so easy to define what those things which are good.
When I experience a great dance I come away feeling excited or exhilarated by the experience. It can be for various different reasons.
To recognise the positives you have consider the negatives.
1. Positive:
The man leads with his hand with a light push-pull action which guides the woman smoothly and clearly in the direction required.
Negative:
The man bounces his hand up and down, has no tone in his hand or arm, bounces his whole body or bends his knees up and down.
2. Positive:
The lead is taken through a slot so that the woman moves across the man and will know that the man will have turned to face her by the time she arrives.
Negative:
No slot is used and the man is in a different plane every time. The woman therefore gets dizzy trying to work out where her partner will be next. (A very common fault)
3. Positive:
During a return the man keeps his arms soft and flexible so that the woman can turn herself comfortably.
Negative:
During a return the man yanks the woman and her arm to get her to turn, often while keeping his arm too low (too high is also a problem). This results in pulled muscles and injured joints and never wishing to dance with that man again.
4. Positive:
The man gives the woman sufficient time (we are always slightly behind due to following) to complete the move and take a rock step ready for the next. Bear in mind if we are in high heels the timing and balance is a little different to sneakers.
Negative:
The man rushes the move so that the woman losses timing or balance.
5. Positive:
The man is gracious in accepting an invitation to dance and is polite or complementary at the end.
Negative:
The man makes it obvious that they consider themselves too good for the woman, either due to better level of dancing ability or difference in age group.
6. Positive:
A beginner asks for advice from a more experienced woman. It brings out the mother in many of us.
Negative:
A beginner will not listen to kindly offered advice and therefore may develop bad habits.
Lots more I am sure others can add.
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