Problem with Teacher’s advice

[Cortado]

The teacher I use for private lessons is an excellent dancer/performer of slim built and she teaches me to lead well with the frame with ZERO force. However this does not work with the average dancer – different build, different ability and response.

Do you have any advice for me please? Should I persevere with the technique or should I change my teacher?

I started Tango 4 months ago and am therefore only a beginner and dance with followers with little or limited experience. The technique does work sometimes but only if the follower is highly responsive and light on her feet.

[Ampster]

The only follows who respond to very light leading will be advanced dancers who need very little impetus to move. They are so intune that they can sense muscle twitches and impulses.

You need to learn how to actually lead with your core/center. Almost all follows respond to this at varying levels, but, you must lead with the appropriate leading pressure. Otherwise, the dance will not happen.

As for my advice, join group classes. That way, you can experiment with pressure as you rotate with different follows. Be prepared. Every single follow will respond to different amounts of leading pressure. You have to learn to read each one to determine what will work best in the ~3 minutes you dance with each other... Fun!

Then take the next step by practicing these techniques at Practicas.

[bordertangoman]

Ampster's advice is sound; tango is a practical dance not a theoretical study so you need to do whatever works and it will be different for different people. Argentine people tend to give and expect a strong lead. I myself am a light lead but I can meet the follower halfway if she doesn't respond. Practice is definitley the way forward and as long as you give an invitation for the follower to move (lead, follow, follow) then you will be fine. :)

[Angel HI]

Ampster's reply is very good.

Argentine people tend to give and expect a strong lead.

As a fairly new lead in AT, do not mistake btm's reply of a "strong lead". A strong lead is a definite lead...not a forceful one.

[newbie]

The teacher I use for private lessons is an excellent dancer/performer of slim built and she teaches me to lead well with the frame with ZERO force. However this does not work with the average dancer – different build, different ability and response.

Do you have any advice for me please? Should I persevere with the technique or should I change my teacher?


Some of my teachers say that I have to lead only by eliberating space for my partner, thus inviting her to move there. Other say I have to give no chance to the follower to do something I don't want. Go figure.
Now I've learned to adapt myself. I begin with a zero-force lead, assuming that the follower knows her job. If she doesn't then I add some firmness.

[Cortado]

Thank you for your advice Ampster, BTM, Angel Hi and Newbie. You all appear to say confirm that the amount of energy necessary in the lead depends on the follower. I have often wondered whether i needed enough energy for one or two! but the answer is really for one plus a variable.

I also do some group lessons and believe it or not, we were doing open embrace and close embrace from the second beginner lesson. Does the amount of lead and energy vary if the distance between you is smaller, as in close embrace? Often in CE I tend to do small steps which makes it hard at times to know which leg the follower is on.

[bordertangoman]

Ampster's reply is very good.



As a fairly new lead in AT, do not mistake btm's reply of a "strong lead". A strong lead is a definite lead...not a forceful one.

exactly: may the force NOT be with you:wink:

[Dave Bailey]

The teacher I use for private lessons is an excellent dancer/performer of slim built and she teaches me to lead well with the frame with ZERO force. However this does not work with the average dancer – different build, different ability and response.
I've had that with dance teachers also, and with partners - sometimes they're just too responsive, so you can't develop techniques for leading less-advanced dancers (i.e. almost everyone), because you're used to a certain level of following.

Do you have any advice for me please? Should I persevere with the technique or should I change my teacher?
One useful exercise is to practice with your partner deliberately and constantly applying a lot of responsive pressure to you.

Don't change teacher, but be aware that by definition you won't be getting "ordinary" levels of following from her. Which I think you know already :D

[newbie]

Does the amount of lead and energy vary if the distance between you is smaller, as in close embrace?
Energy yes, during turns. Lead, yes if the follower is not responsive.


Often in CE I tend to do small steps which makes it hard at times to know which leg the follower is on.
The follower's job is to let you know where her weight is, and also she has to be predictable in her weight change. Some beginning followers change their weight for no good reason (e.g. when they lose their balance during a pivot), which is irritating.

[Cortado]

Thanks newbie.

This is extremely helpful. Being a beginner and obviously dancing with followers at my own level is hard work and often confusing. It is difficult to seperate my mistakes from theirs sometimes. Berating yourself for something you have not yet mastered is fine, but beating yourself up for the few things that you are doing right but getting the wrong response is plain masochistic.

[Joe]

It's easy to become spoiled by a good follow...

[bordertangoman]

Energy yes, during turns. Lead, yes if the follower is not responsive.



The follower's job is to let you know where her weight is, and also she has to be predictable in her weight change. Some beginning followers change their weight for no good reason (e.g. when they lose their balance during a pivot), which is irritating.

I have known ballroom trained dancers keep doing unled weight changes to maintain a parallel system rather than stay in the cross system. I tread on their toes to remind them they've done a step I didn't lead.

[saludas]

You should be happy that your teacher is providing you with the correct feel for following. You should not downgrade your lead to simply accomodate poor or un-advanced follows. Rather, your follows will eventually need to get better and respond to you directing their energy and weight, rather than manipulating it.

If physical force is part of your lead, it is still at a 'low' level. Ditto for a follow - if all they do is respond to physicality, they are not truly dancing. Praise your coach and realize that altho you are dancing better than your local follows, it is the follows that need more coaching... not you!~!

"The worse dancer always has the better time"...

[Cortado]

If physical force is part of your lead, it is still at a 'low' level. Ditto for a follow - if all they do is respond to physicality, they are not truly dancing. Praise your coach and realize that altho you are dancing better than your local follows, it is the follows that need more coaching... not you!~!

"The worse dancer always has the better time"...

That's comforting.

However i cannot be certain that i am doing my leading properly. Sometimes I lead by rotating my chest only, at times i have to rotate my chest and my hips a bit (not my feet), and at times i have to rotate my hips more than a bit. My teacher says that if i have done that and they have not moved, then it's their problem, not to worry about it. The problem is that I dance and practice with some of these follows in group classes, i need to be able to cope.

[bordertangoman]

Leading a follwer should be like power steering:you create a small movement in your chest to invite a large rotation in her hips. It takes time for followers to get this as well as leaders.

[saludas]

That's comforting.

However i cannot be certain that i am doing my leading properly. Sometimes I lead by rotating my chest only, at times i have to rotate my chest and my hips a bit (not my feet), and at times i have to rotate my hips more than a bit. My teacher says that if i have done that and they have not moved, then it's their problem, not to worry about it. The problem is that I dance and practice with some of these follows in group classes, i need to be able to cope.

Yes - but those follows are in learning mode too, and they simply are not doing their part as well.

Do not think you need to compromise your learning to 'accomodate' the others. Yes, if you are dancing with a lower level follow, you may need to be more 'obvious' in your leading - but not more 'heavy handed' - after all, how will the follows learn to be sensitive and more 'independent' if they don't have you doing your best lead?

To 'cope' I suggest that you simply realize that at least half of the 'failure' of the lead is that the follow is not responsive...

[Cortado]

To 'cope' I suggest that you simply realize that at least half of the 'failure' of the lead is that the follow is not responsive...

Saludas I accept what you are saying.

Even when i get better i will still have to lead non-responsive followers and i need to learn some damage limitation tactics. They are always useful to know even if you choose not to do them.

[Cortado]

Leading a follwer should be like power steering:you create a small movement in your chest to invite a large rotation in her hips. It takes time for followers to get this as well as leaders.

Aaah ! I see what you mean.

This is what i was searching for - an imagery that works in practice. Some followers really do need you to assist them to pivot.
Thinking of this power/manual steering image, i think what i need to explore is whether i am too light with my grip on the steering wheel in manual mode. i think i tend to let my right hand slide a bit if there is no give rather than press and carry (to a limited extent of course). I can see my lateral muscles doing overtime in some cases.

[bordertangoman]

exactly but the power isn't coming from you. I have spent hours doing erecises where you do a small movement in order to refine the shared control between you and the follower so that you are able to lead her 45/90/180 /270 /367.55932 degrees etc

[Larinda McRaven]

You should be happy that your teacher is providing you with the correct feel for following. You should not downgrade your lead to simply accomodate poor or un-advanced follows.

I don't think it is downgrading. To simply bring the lead down to the most basic of feelings... without blaming it on the lack of knowledge in the follower. Then he can truly understand how to lead someone, instead of sending a signal that advanced follows have learned to respond to.

[Peaches]

I don't think it is downgrading. To simply bring the lead down to the most basic of feelings... without blaming it on the lack of knowledge in the follower. Then he can truly understand how to lead someone, instead of sending a signal that advanced follows have learned to respond to.I wouldn't consider it "downgrading" either. Reminds me of a lesson I had recently with a different teacher, who spent some time (which he always does, apparently) on what he termed "social skills." His point was that you won't always have a good leader/follower to dance with, so you have to learn to follow less-than-than good leads, or lead less-than-good followers. Sure, perfection is nice, but you don't generally find it. So, you have to figure out how to follow/lead via other means.

He used the example of giros with me--some guys just can't/won't/don't lead them well. So, you watch for other clues and make the best of it. His premise was that it's social dancing, and part of the objective is to find some way of enjoying a dance. And if it means you end up doing some things in a less-than-perfect way, then that's what it takes.

So, for the OP... I'd say keep your teacher. IMHO, it's good to learn how to lead lightly, subtly, and correctly. And it's useful for separating out your mistakes from the follower's. But learning to lead all kinds of followers is also a valuable skill, which is where previous advice of group classes and practicas is spot on.

[Steve Pastor]

Fools rush in..
I haven't read the entire thread, but I want one of you "zero force" people to explain to me how you can take a step forward and collect with there being "zero force".

[bordertangoman]

I don't think it is downgrading. To simply bring the lead down to the most basic of feelings... without blaming it on the lack of knowledge in the follower. Then he can truly understand how to lead someone, instead of sending a signal that advanced follows have learned to respond to.

I don't agree with what you are saying; an advanced lead and follow is a question of refinement of sensitivity and being able to adapt to different people. Advanced followers are not Pavlovian Dogs. If you look at Mauricio Castro's videos he makes it work a lot easier by making it part of what we already know as body language

[Cortado]

Some more good advice, thanks.

I think that some of you are talking at cross purposes as you are all saying - try to do it right; and help the other dancer but only as little as necessary.

Being a beginner is like the blind leading the blind.

[Peaches]

I think that some of you are talking at cross purposes as you are all saying - try to do it right; and help the other dancer but only as little as necessary.Heh heh...quite possibly!

[Ampster]

Being a beginner is like the blind leading the blind.

Thus my previous advice:

Join a group class
so that you can practice with different levels of dancers
The disadvantage of the private lesson (especially for beginners) is that, you are isolated. You only have one partner to learn from. This handicaps you when it comes to the leading part of the excercise because the one of the big things in AT is to be able to lead ANY follower. You you onlt practice with one partner...
Attend Practicas

You practice with an even broader spread of dancers with varying amounts of experience, IN A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT---> that's what practicas are there for
Thus is the challenge of AT. It is forever a learning experience. It takes an investment of time and effort. We all started where you are (especially myself), so keep at it.

Attending classes can only get you so far. You have to apply it. So, take the incremental "Practica" step and experiment.

[jennyisdancing]

you won't always have a good leader/follower to dance with, so you have to learn to follow less-than-than good leads, or lead less-than-good followers. Sure, perfection is nice, but you don't generally find it. So, you have to figure out how to follow/lead via other means.ITA. Adapting your lead, or your follow, to different dancers is not "downgrading" and shouldn't be looked at that way. If you only want to dance with people who are at a specific skill level, then look for a regular partner, take privates with your instructor, or enter competitions. Social dancing means that you will encounter people of different styles and levels and will need to adapt to it. That's part of the fun and challenge of it.

By the way, I am a beginning follower and I have been able to dance with some men who give a light lead but only those who are very experienced and really good. That is, their leading is light but is also very, very precise with exactly the right position, footwork, rotation and body placement to get me to follow correctly. Also, such a skilled leader is better able to sense where my weight is, and my style of movement, and they adapt their lead to that, which also helps me. I don't expect such skill from a beginning leader; it takes a lot of time to get to that point, just as it will take time for me to learn better following skills.

[Steve Pastor]

Somtime during my youth, I would hear this song on the radio.
The last verse is the only one I made up. (I also changed her to him.)

IS THAT ALL THERE IS?
Peggy Lee

SPOKEN:
I remember when I was a very little boy, our house caught on fire.
I'll never forget the look on my father's face as he gathered me up
in his arms and raced through the burning building out to the pavement.
I stood there shivering in my pajamas and watched the whole world go up in flames.
And when it was all over I said to myself, "Is that all there is to a fire"

SUNG:
Is that all there is, is that all there is
If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing
Let's break out the booze and have a ball
If that's all there is

SPOKEN:
And when I was 12 years old, my father took me to a circus, the greatest show on earth.
There were clowns and elephants and dancing bears.
And a beautiful lady in pink tights flew high above our heads.
And so I sat there watching the marvelous spectacle.
I had the feeling that something was missing.
I don't know what, but when it was over,
I said to myself, "is that all there is to a circus?
SUNG:
Is that all there is, is that all there is
If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing
Let's break out the booze and have a ball
If that's all there is

SPOKEN
Then one day I heard about Argentine Tango, and I thought I would learn
the dance of passion and connection
And I took lessons and I practiced and I look lessons and I praticed some more
And eventually I barely had to touch the women and they would follow my lead
And then one day I noticed that it felt like the women were barely there
and I wondered where the passion and the connection were
and I said to myself, is that all there is to Argentine Tango?
SUNG:
Is that all there is, is that all there is
If that's all there is my friends, then let's go two step
Let's break out the Cuervo and have a ball
If that's all there is

[FatBaldGuy60]

And then one day I noticed that it felt like the women were barely there
and I wondered where the passion and the connection were
and I said to myself, is that all there is to Argentine Tango?

I am a beginner, but as an older man even I know that passion and connection are not all about physicality. A light, sure lead, two people moving as one, must be considered passionate.

Then again, somehow I think you know that.

FBG

[Steve Pastor]

"A light, sure lead, two people moving as one, must be considered passionate. Then
again, somehow I think you know that."

What I know, also, is that it's a cryin' shame that the physicality is given such short shrift. Once you've felt it, (I guess with the proper frame of mind?, because I know the intensity of it is not for everyone based on how people act and what they say) it's kind of hard not to notice when it isn't there.
"A light, sure lead, two people moving as one, must be considered passionate."
So, tell me. How is this different than other dances? Or is it not different?

[Cortado]

By the way, I am a beginning follower and I have been able to dance with some men who give a light lead but only those who are very experienced and really good. That is, their leading is light but is also very, very precise with exactly the right position, footwork, rotation and body placement to get me to follow correctly. Also, such a skilled leader is better able to sense where my weight is, and my style of movement, and they adapt their lead to that, which also helps me. I don't expect such skill from a beginning leader; it takes a lot of time to get to that point, just as it will take time for me to learn better following skills.

Yep.
Definitely the way to go! study of dance movement, body types and common follower mistakes and how to deal with them.
(I should have started AT when I was a foetus; i would have got it by now).

[Heather2007]

The teacher I use for private lessons is an excellent dancer/performer of slim built and she teaches me to lead well with the frame with ZERO force. However this does not work with the average dancer – different build, different ability and response.

Do you have any advice for me please? Should I persevere with the technique or should I change my teacher?

I started Tango 4 months ago and am therefore only a beginner and dance with followers with little or limited experience. The technique does work sometimes but only if the follower is highly responsive and light on her feet.

My advice to you and every other newcomer to AT is: your teacher can only provide you with the tools then it is up to you and you only how you sculpture your masterpiece using those tools. Tango has nothing whatsoever to do with size or height and that your teacher is of "slim build" should have no bearing on her teaching skill or the skill of any follower with whom you dance. Don't misinterpret "energy" for "force". Some followers need a stronger lead, others don't. I find when I am leading that almost all followers require more energy from my leading than those who are more seasoned. I personally prefer a very strong lead to the point where I feel as if my physical independence has been totally handed over him - but that's me. It's not everybody's preference, so you will have to intuitionally read how it is your follower needs to be held. If your partner is not following then perhaps you need to strengthen your lead. A case in point: On Saturday, I turned up early and sat and watched the beginner's class before the advance class. 20 or so minutes into the class, the teacher came bundling over to ask if I would join the class to make up the numbers in the lead (once gain, too many women not enough men). This young lady with whom I was practising a simple pattern that had been set confessed that it was her very first time that evening that she had ever tried AT. I stayed with her throughout most of the class giving her tips about her posture etc. Swinging my leg out suddenly (enrosque) I had her perform a fairly fast giro (turn). I was hugely impressed on how perfectly she executed the side/back/side/front turn - better even than some seasoned followers. Perfectly executed because she allowed her body to listen carefully to what was requested of her. I am doing a 1-2-1 private tuition with a man. Last week I had him place his hands and push me backwards. Of course, being a gentleman he refused. I grabbed his hands placed them on my shoulders and said "now shove me backwards". It took a good 5 minutes to get him to do this. He was so embarrassed that the last time shove out of several timid ones almost had me scootling over to the other side of the wooden floor of his lounge. However, he got it. The difference between a timid-hard-to-read lead and one that is energised and is read well. Rememember, chest first, foot later. The hands mustn't be tight but the arms have to energised. Please don't (as I have drummed into my student) fall into the "blame it on the follower" way of thinking. Strengthen your lead your follower and enough to stop/eep her grounded if she starts to run away. Its your orchestra and thus yours to conduct.

Good luck!

[Angel HI]

...create a small movement in your chest to invite a large rotation in her hips. It takes time for followers to get this as well as leaders.

Sound advice from btm.

Sometimes I lead by rotating my chest only, at times i have to rotate my chest and my hips a bit (not my feet), and at times i have to rotate my hips more than a bit.

It is very confusing, and the only answer is practice. I apologize, in advance, if the following exercize is a wee over the head, at this stage. I teach it to beginners. The exercize...interlock your fingers, and make a circle held out in front of you. This is your area of embrace. Know that all of your steps are taken either on this circle (directly under the arms), or directly to the center of the circle.

Rotate, at the waist, as far to the right as you can. See how stepping directly on the circle would create a certain lead. See how stepping to the center of the circle would create a differing lead. Repeat the exercize as you rotate various degrees to the left.

I guess this goes along with btm's steering theory, yet one step furhter. Somewhere in this thread I read something about space being a part of the lead. True. One part of what many refer to as the code of tango is the creating and taking of space (in this case referring to the lady's following a natural balance/weight shift). IMO, this is the most difficult part of the 3 part code. The exercize helps guide you in acquiring this skill while developing lead.

Hope this helps. Keep practicing.

My teacher says that if i have done that and they have not moved, then it's their problem, not to worry about it. The problem is that I dance and practice with some of these follows in group classes, i need to be able to cope.[/quote]

[Joe]

I have known ballroom trained dancers keep doing unled weight changes to maintain a parallel system rather than stay in the cross system. I tread on their toes to remind them they've done a step I didn't lead.
Perhaps you were insufficiently clear in your lead...

[Joe]

Then one day I heard about Argentine Tango, and I thought I would learn
the dance of passion and connection
And I took lessons and I practiced and I look lessons and I praticed some more
And eventually I barely had to touch the women and they would follow my lead
And then one day I noticed that it felt like the women were barely there
and I wondered where the passion and the connection were
and I said to myself, is that all there is to Argentine Tango?

It has often been said that partner dancing is like having a conversation through the physical connection. Personally, I would rather have my partner (dance or otherwise) whisper sweet nothings in my ear than shout into it.

[Peaches]

Especially at close embrace range...

[bordertangoman]

My advice to you and every other newcomer to AT is: your teacher can only provide you with the tools then it is up to you and you only how you sculpture your masterpiece using those tools. Tango has nothing whatsoever to do with size or height and that your teacher is of "slim build" should have no bearing on her teaching skill or the skill of any follower with whom you dance. Don't misinterpret "energy" for "force". Some followers need a stronger lead, others don't. I find when I am leading that almost all followers require more energy from my leading than those who are more seasoned. I personally prefer a very strong lead to the point where I feel as if my physical independence has been totally handed over him - but that's me. It's not everybody's preference, so you will have to intuitionally read how it is your follower needs to be held. If your partner is not following then perhaps you need to strengthen your lead. A case in point: On Saturday, I turned up early and sat and watched the beginner's class before the advance class. 20 or so minutes into the class, the teacher came bundling over to ask if I would join the class to make up the numbers in the lead (once gain, too many women not enough men). This young lady with whom I was practising a simple pattern that had been set confessed that it was her very first time that evening that she had ever tried AT. I stayed with her throughout most of the class giving her tips about her posture etc. Swinging my leg out suddenly (enrosque) I had her perform a fairly fast giro (turn). I was hugely impressed on how perfectly she executed the side/back/side/front turn - better even than some seasoned followers. Perfectly executed because she allowed her body to listen carefully to what was requested of her. I am doing a 1-2-1 private tuition with a man. Last week I had him place his hands and push me backwards. Of course, being a gentleman he refused. I grabbed his hands placed them on my shoulders and said "now shove me backwards". It took a good 5 minutes to get him to do this. He was so embarrassed that the last time shove out of several timid ones almost had me scootling over to the other side of the wooden floor of his lounge. However, he got it. The difference between a timid-hard-to-read lead and one that is energised and is read well. Rememember, chest first, foot later. The hands mustn't be tight but the arms have to energised. Please don't (as I have drummed into my student) fall into the "blame it on the follower" way of thinking. Strengthen your lead your follower and enough to stop/eep her grounded if she starts to run away. Its your orchestra and thus yours to conduct.

Good luck!

such eloquence!

[Joe]

Cliffs Notes?

[Heather2007]

such eloquence!

Grmpph! (eyes narrowing) I don't trust you Mr Bordermantango - are you being sarky :twisted:

[Peaches]

Calm down, now. No need to be all prickly. :-)

I don't know that I can every remember btm being snarky.

[Heather2007]

Calm down, now. No need to be all prickly. :-)

I don't know that I can every remember btm being snarky.

Qu'est-ce c'est - "snarky"

[Peaches]

Er...what I thought you'd written...lemme check... Hmmm...you wrote 'sarky." What's "sarky?"

Snarky is...um...

Urban Dictionary definition:
Adjective - Any language that contains quips or comments containing sarcastic or satirical witticisms intended as blunt irony. Usually delivered in a manner that is somewhat abrupt and out of context and intended to stun and amuse. Origin: Snark="snide remark".

[bordertangoman]

Grmpph! (eyes narrowing) I don't trust you Mr Bordermantango - are you being sarky :twisted:

Pas de tous, I enjoy reading your posts.

[Larinda McRaven]

snarky (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=snarky)

[bordertangoman]

I don't know that I can every remember btm being snarky.

Such a short memory; of course I am expert in snarkasm, but I use it in homeopathic doses for best effect! :wink:

[FatBaldGuy60]

Er...what I thought you'd written...lemme check... Hmmm...you wrote 'sarky." What's "sarky?"

Slang for "sarcastic"; learned that one while living in England.

FBG

[Peaches]

Ohhhhh...thanks!

[madmaximus]

"sNarcasm" or "snarkastic"

as my all-too-hip niece likes to say...






m

[Angel HI]

Yep.
Definitely the way to go! study of dance movement, body types ...

Again, you have received some very good advice on this thread. I am happy to see that you are one of the few who readily understands. You have a good road ahead. And, since everyone else is speaking my mother tongue....bonne chance.

[spectator]

Lately I've been dancing with leads with a very ultra light lead to the point where it's very difficult to follow. Not sure whther it is an affectation or nervousness. There is a diffrence between a limp halfarsed lead and a gentle one. I like to feel the engery coming back at me instead of always feeling like I'm maintaining it and then wondering if i'm doing too much. It's incredibly hard to find a decent connection if one of you isn't engaged. i would say i was a very light follower to the point where Komala tells me to be more resistant every time I take one of her classes.
I also think it's very easy to always blame the follower/lead and say oh it's because they are beginners. I think you have to remember that different people have different biting point- like cars (with manual gears!) it takes an adjustment when you get a new one to stop you stalling at junctions. Is this not why we have 3 dances in a tanda? The first one is all about learning to read each other?

[Angel HI]

Lately I've been dancing with leads with a very ultra light lead to the point where it's very difficult to follow. Not sure whther it is an affectation or nervousness. There is a diffrence between a limp halfarsed lead and a gentle one.

Agreed...re my post #4.

[Peaches]

I used to think the same thing about my current teacher, before I started taking lessons from him. Then I started learning from him, and realized a lot of the problem was a lack of connection on my part.

Now, I've got no problems with him. Probably a combination of better connection from me, more skill on my part (it has been 1.5 years since I started with him), and being used to him.

[bordertangoman]

My advice to you and every other newcomer to AT is: your teacher can only provide you with the tools then it is up to you and you only how you sculpture your masterpiece using those tools. Tango has nothing whatsoever to do with size or height and that your teacher is of "slim build" should have no bearing on her teaching skill or the skill of any follower with whom you dance. Don't misinterpret "energy" for "force". Some followers need a stronger lead, others don't. I find when I am leading that almost all followers require more energy from my leading than those who are more seasoned. I personally prefer a very strong lead to the point where I feel as if my physical independence has been totally handed over him - but that's me. It's not everybody's preference, so you will have to intuitionally read how it is your follower needs to be held. If your partner is not following then perhaps you need to strengthen your lead. A case in point: On Saturday, I turned up early and sat and watched the beginner's class before the advance class. 20 or so minutes into the class, the teacher came bundling over to ask if I would join the class to make up the numbers in the lead (once gain, too many women not enough men). This young lady with whom I was practising a simple pattern that had been set confessed that it was her very first time that evening that she had ever tried AT. I stayed with her throughout most of the class giving her tips about her posture etc. Swinging my leg out suddenly (enrosque) I had her perform a fairly fast giro (turn). I was hugely impressed on how perfectly she executed the side/back/side/front turn - better even than some seasoned followers. Perfectly executed because she allowed her body to listen carefully to what was requested of her. I am doing a 1-2-1 private tuition with a man. Last week I had him place his hands and push me backwards. Of course, being a gentleman he refused. I grabbed his hands placed them on my shoulders and said "now shove me backwards". It took a good 5 minutes to get him to do this. He was so embarrassed that the last time shove out of several timid ones almost had me scootling over to the other side of the wooden floor of his lounge. However, he got it. The difference between a timid-hard-to-read lead and one that is energised and is read well. Rememember, chest first, foot later. The hands mustn't be tight but the arms have to energised. Please don't (as I have drummed into my student) fall into the "blame it on the follower" way of thinking. Strengthen your lead your follower and enough to stop/eep her grounded if she starts to run away. Its your orchestra and thus yours to conduct.

Good luck!


"I agree with everything you say, but I would attack to the death your right to say it. "
Tom Stoppard

[Steve Pastor]

"i would say i was a very light follower to the point where Komala tells me to be more resistant every time I take one of her classes. "

YES! Tell Komala her I send a big hug and a "Thank You".

[Heather2007]

"I agree with everything you say, but I would attack to the death your right to say it. "
Tom Stoppard

Grmppphhh!!

[bordertangoman]

Grmppphhh!!

It was too witty a quote not use. Turns Voltaire nicely on his head.:lol: