I believe the first what teachers have to do before to start teach students basics in any social dance is how to behave, how to invite and how to respect your partner on the dance floor, ethic and rules of social dance. People have to remember about that Dance is not only “movements in action” and not only “body connection”. Dance is conversation and connections of two spirits that feel the music the same way! If you only think about how you look on public and if you look impressive enough for show off your ego, but you don’t think about your partner image or about her/his personal conditions at that time, that’s not good at all and it just will make your leader image more negative.
Leader always have to be adopted to the level or health condition of the follower he choose to dance for the 3-4 min song. Purpose of social dance is to enjoy and feel comfortable. Leaders when they start learn how to dance and lead, have to remember that each lady (follower) has her individuality as physical (body shape, weight, height, flexibility etc) and also psychological (she can be shy, or not so free with her expressions of movements, she can be stressed or not so confident and all she needs is just few nice words or friendly smile to relax and start follow good). Not all ladies dancers have ballet or other kind of dance back grounds. As not all leaders have knowledge of anatomy or leading technique to perform perfect. Be supportive and patient.
When we watch professional dancers shows or demo we all impressed by their movements and musicality. Of course ! Is so challenging for us to become at least something closer to that perfection. Don’t forget to look perfect they polish and repeat their choreo 100 times, they injured, trained and practiced over and over again. So effect is obvious. But it cannot show full success of the dancer. Full success of the dancer is not in his show. Is in his social dancing. When he/she dance smooth and easy with unknown person that he never practice with, that looks just breathtaking.
Beginners, people who just start learning social dance! Please don’t rush to learn 100 movements and complicated stuff, by watching and coping moves from videos on YouTube. Spend a bit time and money and learn from the teachers who has proper knowledge and study for that, who has experience and can explain step by step “why and how”, attend musicality classes, contact improvisation classes etc. Not only it will enrich you as a dancer but, if you learn how to lead/ follow basic and fundamental things clean and easy by respecting your partner and caring for each step , waiting , posing , listening , looking at your partner, your image on the dance floor will never be spoiled, doesn’t matter how long you have been dancing. Violence on dance floor is unacceptable, especially if you know health condition of person with whom you dance is not well. Is also unacceptable during social dance to teach or show how to do that or another move! I saw many times when man explaining to the lady on social dance party what to do so she can make a move he leads her. It’s terrible. SOCIAL DANCE is for enjoyment and fun! Even if you perform at the show for public and something is going wrong, good partners are covering each other mistakes and making each other look good. In Social dance and on parties we are enjoying the best we can do and the best we learn. Choose to be good partner, that everyone desire to dance with! 🙂
I dedicate this post to my dear friends and teachers whom I respect deeply till now and admire their work and professionalism who showed me and to my students the best side of the dance. They are great teachers that can be easy sample for many people who start their dance path and I am happy I learn from them as well a lots of things!
© Sofia Andreadou
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