Lead/Follow in Competitive Dance

[pygmalion]

This was brought up briefly in a thread several months ago, but I think it bears a bit of further discussion.

What is the role of lead/follow in pre-choreographed, competitive or exhibition dance? How important is it in the execution of the dance itself, floorcraft and judging the quality of the dance?

Thoughts, anyone?

[Porfirio Landeros]

I compete in American Smooth, which can consist of a significant amount of side-by-side dancing, but every time we're in a connected position (dance position, shadow, one/two hand hold) there is definitely lead and follow.

I'm sure everyone who has taken a decent number of dance lessons has heard of 'tone' - the strength of the connection between the leader and follower. Tone is usually taught as something that is crucial to the lead/follow process, but it is also something that is visible to the audience. Without good tone, arms would flap, bodies would slam, and knees would knock.

So, in my experience, leading is just as important in choreography as it is in freestyling, if at the very least for the maintenance of tone.

[looyenyeo]

Let's say in a crunch choice between two International Latin couples who have similarly suited choreography. One couple is decidedly more "leggy" in their action (which would indicate less lead/follow interaction) than the other.

All things being equal, the other couple should clinch it. But things never are, so other factors come into play. At international level, judges are notorious for their individual preferences.

It can help if you know who's judging, and what their priorities are in terms of dance criteria: a useful indicator for the sort of results you can expect.

Opening a can of worms,
Loo

[Vince A]

This was brought up briefly in a thread several months ago, but I think it bears a bit of further discussion.

What is the role of lead/follow in pre-choreographed, competitive or exhibition dance? How important is it in the execution of the dance itself, floorcraft and judging the quality of the dance?

Thoughts, anyone?
I believe that the roles are exactly that - a leader and a follower. When I 'was' competing, my Pro insisted on us knowing the entire routine so that it could be lead, and followed, for the mere reason that if one or the other forgot the routine (nice way of saying "panicked"), the routine went away for a few beats of lead and follow, until the leader got them back on course.

Once (as a Newcomer) I had a J lead in the middle of a Cha Cha move, which was followed by four inside multiple turns for the follower . . . . I gave the J lead in the wrong direction and she followed it thinking I forgot the routine . . . we then lead and followed the rest of the dance . . . IN COMPETITION no less . . . 5th place . . . . yuk . . . many years ago!

A routine is extremely important in competition . . . and judges can tell if it's lead and follow!