It’s not as simple as “I lead and you follow”.
On the surface level
A leader: keeps time to make sure they are on the beat, decide the next move and leads it.
A follower: feels the lead and translates it into a move, and are always alert to the next move.
On a deeper level: The Leader and timing
To keep the basic timing in of itself can prove difficult for many, and so this surface level version of keeping time needs to be mastered before moving onto the next level. But for those who are there, the next level consists of two things
- musicality
- musical interpretation
Note: Time keeping is the beginners level, and it should become second nature before moving onto the other two.
Musicality
Musicality depicts the type and style of dancing you decide to do based on which part of the music it relates to. Different music will have different sections – For example, Bachata music typically includes an introduction and mambo section. And for each section, a different combination of patterns and/or lead instruments are present. As an advanced leader, a key skill is knowing when different sections are coming up and then choosing to do moves which compliment the different patterns or which fit the mood of the section.
Musical Interpretation
This is how you interpet the music, and can be done in any way, for example like picking specific beats to do specific complimentary moves to. There isn’t a right or wrong way to do this as long as you can keep time, but some movements definitely feel better to certain types of music than others. This form of ‘freestyle’ to the music can lead to some unique styles and fun dances however it can be difficult to master, especially to take your follower along with you. So, this must only be done if you can already work perfectly to timing and to musicality.
As Henry Matisse once said ‘To break the rules, you must first learn the rules. And I am a big believer in learning the rules and repeating them until you know it so well and you have done them so well so many times over months and months that you are bored sick of them before moving on.
On a deeper level: The Leader and leading
Again, it’s not as simple as learn the lead for the move. There are a few things to consider.
The first is the level of the follower.
Often I see leaders trying complicated moves with a follower who just started a few weeks ago and the move doesn’t work. This can result in at least one of the following:
- injury to the follower and/or leader
- demotivation for the follower because they feel they can’t do the move ‘and should just be following’
- demotivation for the leader because they feel they can’t lead the move
- general dislike for dancing with that person
To avoid all of this, leaders should try to stick to the level of the follower. Only where there is an advanced leader, you can push a little more. You can always ‘test’ your follower by trying a slightly harder move and seeing if they can follow it, if they can then great, you can dance at that higher level but if they can’t, then stick to what you were doing before.
Decisive and clear
Being decisive and clear are two skills that are not spoken about enough on the social dance scene.
The hesitant leader, summarised in a sassy phrase – If you don’t know what you are doing, how do you expect anyone else to know what you are doing?
You are better off waiting a few counts of 8 until you make a desicion before instigating a move.
And then we move onto clarity, as much as it may seem like your follower is a brain reader, they are going entirely off your body language to translate your lead into a move. Therefore being clear and giving plenty of time for the lead to be translated (usually 2-3 beats) is extremely important.
You are far better off waiting until the next lot of 8 to make sure that you give your follower plenty of time to interpret your lead.
So in summary,
- Deciding on the next move
- Leading the move
- Giving the follower clues for the upcoming move
- Giving the follower plenty of time to translate the move
- Being clear with the lead
- Ensuring the moves you do are suitable to the level of your follower
- Being on time and on the correct beat
- Understanding and implementing musicality
- Playing with the music/musical interpretation
- Your own styling
- And of course, this isn’t an exhaustive list
This blog is already a little longer than anticipated and as an experienced follower, I certainly have a lot to say from the follower perspective. So I will leave that side for the next blog. Make sure you are subscribed to get notified when the next one is released.
Norwich Latin Dance 