Because so few men know how to lead.Originally posted by horsey_dude
Why do so few women seem to know how to follow?
Most of the simpler Ceroc moves flow pretty well. By that I mean the lady is just doing a pretty natural movement, with no uncomfortable or forced changes of direction. If you change these moves, you must keep this natural flow, or give the lady enough warning that something different is going to happen. For example in a return, you can turn the lady twice, taking an extra count, quite easily because it flows. But to get the lady to turn twice in a single count you have to set the lady up for the turn a bit sharper (I hesitate before saying stronger), and put the acceleration in early enough so the lady has a chance.The way that I understand it (and you can correct me if I am wrong) the man leads each part of a move and if he was to stop halfway through then the woman would stop. This means that the man can lead a move that the woman has never done before and she will simply follow each part until it is completed.
The lead starts before the follow. It is impossible for the two to start at the same time. So make sure you lead early enough for the lady to do the step in time with the music.
The amount of energy needed to lead properly is very small, but it has to be well directed. So make sure you can lead the normal version properly. Then make sure your lead for the variation is noticably different, but still with just enough energy to do the move. As soon as you start putting too much into it, you risk pulling the lady off balance, or even worse hurting her. She will then spend the rest of the dance fighting you, not following you.
It is not just your hand that does the lead. The lady will take clues from what your body is doing, and sometimes where you are looking. If you are doing a variation, then your body can almost certainly do something different. Try practising with a lady who you are very used to dancing with, and do a whole song without holding hands. Don't just do basic steps - do your variations as well, and see how much your body shaping can affect the lady.
And make sure you don't give the lady confusing leads just because you are trying to add your own style.
David
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