Lead and Follow: Part 7 – Ultimate Partnership

May 12, 2010 By 2 Comments

shadowdanceI was never really comfortable with the terms lead and follow in dance.  Are you?

I have  stated in the past that lead and follow requires equality and that the follower is really in as much control of the dance as the leader.

Negative Perception

For many people, especially ladies, The term follow is not a popular word.   When people hear “Follow”, they seem to think it means do what you are told and you have no choice.  Lead also tends to have similar negative impact, being perceived as command .

Following is active, not passive and Leading is part following and can only be accomplished if the leader is GIVEN authority, by the follower.

I was going to write this article myself, when I ran across the same subject written by Richard Powers.   I like the way he describes lead and follow as tracking and interpreting.  See what you think.

Read Richard Powers – Ultimate Partnering

As a leader, how much are you following?

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9 Life Lessons Learned From Dance

April 29, 2010 By 2 Comments

Will dance change your life?

Lately, I have been thinking about how my life has changed in the ten years since I started learning to dance.   As I thought about this, it occurred to me that a number of very positive things have changed in my life that were a direct result of dance.  Here are a few.

1. Confidence

If I can do something once, I can do it a thousand times.

[Read more...]

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Lead and Follow Part 6 – Matching Resistance

April 29, 2010 By 3 Comments
Matching Resistance

Matching Resistance

Matching resistance is a critical element in creating good connection. To create this connection the follower needs to be in the man’s right hand.  To create a connection with your partner in the closed ballroom position, the follower must match the resistance of the leader’s right hand with her left shoulder blade.

This is achieved by the follower pulling her left shoulder back and down pressing into the leader’s hand.  With no matching resistance, the follower will simply collapse into the leader and there is no communication and no way for him to lead at this point.

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Vulnerability is Powerful: Can I learn to Dance?

April 26, 2010 By 2 Comments

Learning to dance can be a fun and rewarding experience, but walking into that studio for the first time can be quite scary for many people.

Read more of my article at The Examiner….

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2 show joy of wheelchair ballroom dancing

April 23, 2010 By 1 Comment

Marchione and her disabled partner, Nick Scott, will compete together for the first time at the upcoming Philadelphia Festival Atlantic Coast Championships in Philadelphia in June and again at the IPC Worlds in November in Germany.

Read More…

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Ballroom Dancer's Horoscope….Seriously?

April 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

I guess there is something out there for everyone.  If you are into Horoscopes and dance, well this site is just for you.

Not for me, but I certainly got a kick out of it.  I wonder if you get a free palm reading with the purchase of private lessons????  Might be worth asking.

Ballroom Dancer’s Horoscope For April 14 — 20
With the new moon in impulsive Aries today, Wednesday, April 14, use your common sense and focus your energy…..

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What Do Women Want? – On and Off the dance floor

April 9, 2010 By 3 Comments

As men, we often ask ourselves what do  women want and it seems to be a mystery to many.   ….

Is it possible that what women want in life is the same thing they look for in dance?   I hear over and over again from dance instructors the following statement in one form or another.  “Guys, this is the one place you are in charge”.   Is this really true?  I wonder.raymond_ray

We live in a society today that has taken something critical from men.   Our Masculinity and Authority.  Gone are the days of strong men.

[Read more...]

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2 Ways Your Head Impacts Your Dancing

March 24, 2010 By 6 Comments

Have you ever stopped to consider how much your head weighs?  On Average about 12 pounds.  That may not sound like much, but when it’s sitting on top of your body it can have an exaggerated impact on your balance and the way your body moves.

Your head can influence your body in two primary ways.

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Lead and Follow Part 5: Partner Communication

March 22, 2010 By 1 Comment

Partner Communication is critical to effective lead and follow.   The link is to an eHow video that gives a decent description of partner communication and a few exercises you can use to improve your lead and follow.
Partner Communication Video

In this video, you will learn the basics of partner communication techniques.

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Partner Communication in Swing

March 8, 2010 By 2 Comments

Partner Communication is critical to effective lead and follow.  Maintaining connection is always a challenge.  This video demonstrates the basics of partner communication techniques and a couple of exercises you can use to improve your lead and follow.

Partner Communication

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