Leaders: Keeping it small advise [Archive]

salsarhythms

09-25-2003, 05:37 PM

Welcome nobodaddy...

I'm glad you're here...

I know, I love this place too...isn't it great!!

Anyway, as far as the small spaces thing.

Obviously when learning, you start out with big steps because
your instructor most likely would like to emphasize what the
proper steps are.

What I normally try to do is make my steps smaller, and smaller
utilizing less and less real estate on the dance floor.

But the way I do it, is weird...

Although I am conciously taking smaller steps, inside and in my
mind, I'm taking a larger step.

I do this so that the flow and the rhythm stay inside of me...

I know it's kind of weird to explain that without any visuals, but
does anyone know what I'm talking about?

Basically, on purpose I'll take the small steps but as far as my
conscience mind is concerend, I'm taking a bigger step and so
my body reacts the same way (rhythm-wise) except with smaller
physical steps...

Does that sound to weird?? :D

pygmalion

09-25-2003, 07:33 PM

I'm not sure what you mean, salsarhythms, but I'm pondering it. It seems like one of those profound dancing breakthroughs. I'm sure clarity will come to me when I think about it, and then I'll be on a whole new plane. :D

Here's my suggestion, also mental. Disclaimer: I'm a follower. But here's what my coach told me to do with Latin dances, including salsa. Think of dancing with my ribcage, not my feet, and stay over my own feet, rather than extending beyond them. That way, your movements look huge, but don't take up much real estate.

borikensalsero

09-25-2003, 10:56 PM

Welcome to the forums nobodaddy...

Wow, Fernando, I thought I was the only crazed man to do that. I do it when-ever I want give myself the impression that I'm dancing to a faster song with a slower tempo. I kind of mentally elongate the steps and make them slow motion as you mentioned.

As far as advice when crowded, I would suggest keeping it very simple when its crowded. Concentrate more on feeling the music and body motions than feet motions and combos. Keep steps from toes to heel, heel to toes. If you can try not to lift your feet from the ground but rather slide them as you dance. That way you'll prevent yourself from stepping on others. I dance more upright when the dance floor is packed, with very simple turn patterns, plus I dance a lot closer to the girl. Also try to having your right foot between her feet as to be a tad off-center, ultimately enabling you to get closer to each other with out bumping knees. When doing cross-bodies place your right hand on the girl's left shoulder blade allowing more control and easier leads. The lower your hand the less control you'll have over the lead. Lastly, practice at home dancing on a 2x2 feet space. When dancing in the slot it should suffice to have a great time. The more you get used to dance with little space, the less you'll notice how crowded the floor is.

Hope it helps... :D

DanceMentor

09-25-2003, 11:29 PM

I'm a member of "Big Steps Annonymous" :cry:

I've done so many different types of dancing, including performing and competing...maybe more of that than social dancing. I love these things and I always want to feel like I am doing the very best I can. This presents quite a problem when you surround me with other couples. I feel like my freedom of expression in somehow repressed. I've gotten better over the years, but I still find that I don't stay too long if the club is really crowded. Am I a hopeless case?

salsarhythms

09-26-2003, 03:43 AM

Boriken, thank god, I thought I was going crazy!!

It's a very weird thing to explain, but it has more to do
with feeling than it does with anything physical...it's just that
it will show through in your steps...I'll try to come up with
a written explanation to further illustrate...

Hey Mentor, no you're not a lost case, Boriken had some
great points he made...I too try to keep my feet on the
ground and kind of slide...

But also, I practice taking small steps now probably more
than anything else...don't know why, but I like the way it
feels...

brujo

09-26-2003, 05:14 PM

I dance more upright when the dance floor is packed, with very simple turn patterns, plus I dance a lot closer to the girl.

The difference between us, my friend, is that I always dance close to the girl. Does this make me a creepy old man :twisted: ?

borikensalsero

09-26-2003, 06:02 PM

borikensalsero

09-26-2003, 06:08 PM

mellody43

09-26-2003, 06:25 PM

A few partners I see regularly dan hold me closer if it's really crowded and that's no problem, but not okay for just anybody! hehe! When it gets that crowded I just pray for a merengue to come on.

I try and keep my feet under my hips as much as possible to "stay small". However, if my lead is going big, it's much more difficult.

I *adore* leads who can really take care of me on a crowded dance floor.

But don't feel bad if you do occasionally spin out into someone or bump elbows -- it happens to the best of us!

Melissa

brujo

09-26-2003, 08:20 PM

A lindy hop experiment... Tie a string of resonable distance between your ankles and put on your favorite song. Try to dance without feeling the string extend completely. Try faster songs, different beats, etc. The tug will force you to make your steps smaller. You might want to do this at home and not, say, the most popular danceclub in town ( unless you belong to a chain gang, in which case you have other problems ). This will also help you identify the places where your over-extend your step, which sometimes is in the most unexpected places.

SDsalsaguy

09-27-2003, 02:13 AM

Great idea/exercise brujo!

HothouseSalsero

12-19-2003, 12:59 PM

Maybe this is obvious, but in addition to taking smaller steps, attempt to keep switching places with your partner. That way you aren't going to use up much more space while doing a combination. Of course, sometimes it is simply too crowded to do much of anything, so don't.

When I am at the gym (where I often have an entire aerobics room to myself) I have sometimes practiced keeping steps and combinations tight, by dancing in an artificially enclosed space (using step aerobic steps as boundary markers).

I wish some of my partners would practice keeping their steps small, however. Real club dancing veterans tend to have good habits in this regard.

africana

05-20-2005, 02:49 AM

sometimes I consciously work on taking small steps, particularly with fast songs. But I notice it's difficult sometimes because these songs also get people (including myself) sorta "wild", and all that unreciprocated tugging just pulls one off his/her center. So it does help to dance with supressed excitement (sometimes boring but conserves energy ;) ) hmm... :?

Lucretia

05-20-2005, 03:12 AM

Try the umbrella principle!

Imagine you and your partner are dancing under an umbrella. It is raining and noone is supposed to get wet.

This tips (from someone at DF) have helped me a lot. If you think "not so big steps" the brain forgets the word not. And you might be so concentrated on the legs & feet that you forget dancing.

With help of an imaginary umbrella you still have the focus on the teamwork & dancing.

/luc

africana

05-20-2005, 03:27 AM

yeah that's good advise - although in my case the problem is partly being too rough with "arms of steel" like when a fast song comes on...I find not being too energetic and relaxing the arms helps on my side (if I remember ;)) but it's not effective if my partner continues to be rough. And that means you get pulled and thrown all over the floor :evil:

Houdinni

11-22-2006, 08:32 AM

Smaller steps is a consience issue until it get's "in your body".

Most of us start with larger steps, and as we progress we make smaller ones (or sometimes actually not moving since it's not necessary), saving time and space, and generically making the dance seem more beautifull.

You can limitate your dance space (use benches for example), and try to dance in smaller and smaler spaces for example.

But at the beggining, you must trully think about just keeping you steps smaller. With time, they just do and you don't think about it anymore... ;)

samina

11-22-2006, 08:36 AM

Real club dancing veterans tend to have good habits in this regard.

Yes, I think you're right about that, Hothouse. When you dance regularly in packed clubs, you learn how to adjust.

I think it's actually very good practice for technique because, although the tight space limits freedom of movement, it consolidates your energy and forces you to be very controlled.

:)
Samina

starry

11-22-2006, 09:15 AM

As a follower, when I am faced with limited space I find that the more I keep eye contact with my leader's eyes or face, the easier it is to stay within the floor space alloted to us. This way I always know exactly where he is and I stay closer to him. This requires a certain amount of trust, however, that the lead will take care of me and do his best to steer us clear of collision.

Also, one does not always need to take a step backwards (following on the 1 during an
ON1 dance, on the 6 during an ET ON2). Stepping in place is fine or simply staying put with the feet being aware of weight changes. Just make sure, followers, that your lead is not not in the habit of taking large steps forward or you will get stepped on. Most intermediate and advanced leads keep the footwork tight so this is usually not a problem, but make sure you check out his typical stride length before you style in place to replace a backward break.

Roo

11-22-2006, 10:01 AM

These are all good suggestions. I end up with heel marks/bruises on my foot somewhat regularly, so I think I have a special talent for taking too big steps and usually ending up on the bottom?? (though I have committed some injuries myself!) :shock:

Do women also do the foot-slidey thing? I've only *noticed* guys doing it, but maybe I just haven't noticed with the women.

Josh

11-23-2006, 10:41 AM

It's my opinion that a good dancer should be able to adjust to the amount of space he or she has. If you have a huge floor that's now crowded, there is nothing wrong with taking large steps. The key is, as someone mentioned above a while back, to dance the body, not the feet. Small or large steps (should) follow from moving the body a little bit, or a lot. One reason I hate dancing in a really crowded club is that people tend to wind up just shuffling their feet back and forth, not moving their bodies at all. The dynamic of the movement in the dance is lost, and it just feels weak.

englezul

11-23-2006, 01:58 PM

First, let me say I LOVE this website and the Salsa forum. Thank you salsarythms for pointing me here!

I've been dancing for about a year, but only ramped up this past summer. I've started overcoming the fear/intimidation factor of a new leader, and started hitting the clubs on a regular basis. I still can't seem to dance in crowded spaces! Can any of the guys give me advise on keeping it small--slot or circular. I watch the good leaders and they seem able to lead their followers through any pattern in a small space with ease.

I think you're asking the wrong question. What you should be asking is 'How do I get myself enough space even in the most crowded clubs?'

It's very easy, just use your elbows to create as much space as you want. You could also strategically step on a couple of people, not too much cause you don't want to get tired, you have a whole night ahead of you, but just enough to plant the seeds of fear in your neighbours. The biggest breakthrough is when you'll start doing cross body leads that take 15 feet to complete and engage in dips, lifts, aerials, and other flashy LA style extravaganza. You will notice that after applying these new easy to do techniques, you'll have more space than you ever wanted. Make sure everybody knows that is your turf and that they can't compete. And don't apologize, cause you're alpha and alphas don't care. 8)

squirrel

11-24-2006, 05:10 AM

LOL englezul...

I might be applying this tonight against the very people who've been doing it for quite some time now...

MacMoto

12-04-2006, 11:25 AM

Re. keeping it compact, in addition to taking small steps, make sure your elbows are bent and never fully straightened. Also try and keep your elbows close to your torso. This has an effect of keeping your partner close to you, and that shortens your slot. Also, don't use more force than necessary to lead the follower -- if you drag/push your partner, she will end up having to take larger steps to keep her balance.

LatinDancer006

12-04-2006, 12:47 PM

MacMoto, those are great tips. I also wanted to add, focus on fundamental techniques like cuban hip motion. CHM usually looks better with small strides. And also always be aware of your surroundings, eg. how far away is the couple behind your partner, behind you; is there enough room to your side to do a CBL; does your partner have enough room to spin; etc.. Awareness is key.

SalsaTO

12-04-2006, 06:31 PM

Anyone who can properly lead their partner should be able to execute every turn pattern in a 3 foot by 3 foot space - less if they are really good. Too many dancers think they are still in a studio with tons of space for lungeing 10-15 foot xbody leads, horizontally, not vertically extending arms and legs, or 9-11 foot travelling turns waiting for a partner to lunge and grab them to a stop before they whirl, spinning like a top into another couple.

The secret is in the fundamentals - lead and follow and footwork. Smaller steps, smaller body motions, closer as in bent arm lead and follow. It's a dance, not a race to the other end of the building in one x-body lead or an out-of-control travelling turn. Save that stuff for the beginning or the end of the night when the floor is almost empty.

Leader or follower can use lead and follow to draw their partner up short to avoid collision - remember that guys. Adapt to the changing space by adapting the turn patterns. And keep the feet moving, as in actually shifting weight from one to the other for most of the beats, to take advantage of any opening that comes in the crowd. Flatfoot or shufflefoot doesn't hack it here. It may look 'cool' as in West Coast Swing cool, but standing on the spot doesn't cut it in a dense crowd. Stay mobile, not planted.

There is a great pay-off to dancing small. Smaller moves done well are just as sexy and flashy and competent as big moves - perhaps even more so. Your partner will appreciate not being bounced off other people like a tennis ball. Its a bit of work, but it is fun, as the dance becomes close. It's also a great time to be a little flirty, to try turn patterns from closed position.

And, a few more couples can enjoy the dance floor or that tribal favorite song of the moment without struggling in a salsa mosh pit.

squirrel

12-05-2006, 03:47 AM

I like leaders who look ahead to see if there is room enough for a CBL or whatever move they were going to do... to see if the couple dancing next to us is not doing a CBL themselves, thus the ladies ending up bumping into each other etc.

Looking the other way on 3 (for on1 dancing) helps to see if "the coast is clear".

salsamarty

12-05-2006, 10:00 AM

Basic Rules . . .

1. Leaders are responsible for their partners. You always have to be aware of the people around you. Sometimes there is nothing you can do to avoid a crash but your partner will appreciate the effort.
2. You just have to take smaller steps and set the pace and space for the follower. Try practicing with very fast music. You just have to take smaller steps to keep up.
3. Part of being considerate to those around you is to limit the type of patterns you execute. Some patterns are just not appropriate for a crowded dance floor.
4. Dance toward the edge of the dance floor so you aren't surrounded. Where depends on the layout of the club or dance studio. I have regulars who insist on dancing in front of the stage for this reason.

Josh

12-05-2006, 10:54 AM

Anyone who can properly lead their partner should be able to execute every turn pattern in a 3 foot by 3 foot space - less if they are really good.
...
The secret is in the fundamentals - lead and follow and footwork. Smaller steps, smaller body motions, closer as in bent arm lead and follow. It's a dance, not a race to the other end of the building in one x-body lead or an out-of-control travelling turn. Save that stuff for the beginning or the end of the night when the floor is almost empty.

(this sounds like an article...?)

As an experiment, I'm just going to do the math here. So a guy's foot with shoes on is an average of about a foot, right? And a girl's, maybe 9 inches? And let's say the space between the man's and lady's feet for an average closed hold is around 6 inches. That's 2 feet, 3 inches. Now, some figures can be done in a 9 inch space... but as you say, "every turn pattern" should be done in that space? Not going to happen. Now I agree, that on a very crowded floor this may happen. But I've found that many people move so little like this because it's much easier to do than to move the body a larger amount with control. So many people dance with this little shuffle, not really moving their bodies, only flicking the feet back and forth a little bit. Again, I'm not downing this way at all, but to say that a measurement of a competent dancer is to be able to do everything in a 3x3 space is pretty silly. Dance tight?--yes! But if I only have 3x3 all night, I'd rather go dance in the parking lot!

One more thing--you say that "Anyone who can properly lead their partner should be able to execute every turn pattern in a 3 foot by 3 foot space"... what about the follower? Is the leader in total control of the space usage? Of course not... Followers have to learn how to keep their traveling turns small, and the guy has NO control over the size of her steps. If he tries to keep her close and she tries to travel far, he will make her off balance. She has to dance herself small.

Basic Rules . . .

1. Leaders are responsible for their partners. You always have to be aware of the people around you. Sometimes there is nothing you can do to avoid a crash but your partner will appreciate the effort.
2. You just have to take smaller steps and set the pace and space for the follower. Try practicing with very fast music. You just have to take smaller steps to keep up.
3. Part of being considerate to those around you is to limit the type of patterns you execute. Some patterns are just not appropriate for a crowded dance floor.
4. Dance toward the edge of the dance floor so you aren't surrounded. Where depends on the layout of the club or dance studio. I have regulars who insist on dancing in front of the stage for this reason.

Good rules, especially #3. But #4... are you sure the reason they do this isn't because they like to be watched? :wink: I've seen some people who will refuse to dance in the middle of the floor even if it's wide open and the outside is packed, because they want to be admired by onlookers... (and I've seen couples fight over perimeter floor space... it's quite funny to watch).

sweavo

12-05-2006, 11:12 AM

Rule 4 is a pain in the ass when you are trying to get around the dancefloor to the bar or bathroom!

samina

12-05-2006, 11:34 AM

Anyone who can properly lead their partner should be able to execute every turn pattern in a 3 foot by 3 foot space - less if they are really good.

still, there's a limit to the small-space equation. i've stopped going to one venue because the dance floor is generally too freakin small & overcrowded.

one still needs a little breathing room in the evening... no matter how good the leader :)

Sagitta

12-06-2006, 10:08 AM

I dance in flip flops and don't usually have a problem. ;-)

salsamarty

12-13-2006, 12:44 AM

As I said . . . it depends on the layout of the club. You definately don't want to be in the traffic lane to the bar or the bathroom. As for being watched, the stage side of the room is just as visible as anywhere else. This club has a corner of the dance floor where the "better" dancers hang out and it is out of the traffic lanes.

Which brings up another strategy. Often the better dancers will know how to dance in their slot. More experience dancers will know how to dance in control and will look out for those around them. If you can stick by the experience dancers you will be less likely to crash because they are unlikely to crash into you or go off in unpredictable directions. The rest is up to you.

Houdinni

12-13-2006, 04:01 AM

[QUOTE=Josh;351800what about the follower? Is the leader in total control of the space usage? Of course not... Followers have to learn how to keep their traveling turns small, and the guy has NO control over the size of her steps. If he tries to keep her close and she tries to travel far, he will make her off balance. She has to dance herself small.[/QUOTE]

Most answers on this topic put the responsability on the leaders shoulders. I do agree with that on a general principle, but I relate to what Josh said. With some follows is just so hard to minimize her travel space!

Sure, they're usually not the advanced ones, but sometimes even those have travel spaces that are hard to minimize (mostly when trying especially hard to show off). How does the leader deals with that? And in this particullar situation it can hardly be the leaders fault... ou can it?

MacMoto

12-13-2006, 09:22 AM

Sure, they're usually not the advanced ones, but sometimes even those have travel spaces that are hard to minimize (mostly when trying especially hard to show off). How does the leader deals with that? And in this particullar situation it can hardly be the leaders fault... ou can it?

As the leader you can:

- Corner her. If you put her in a place where *she* can see there's not much room (e.g., edge of the floor, near a wall/pillar/tables/tree :lol:), she'll be more careful with her travelling habit (works for me! :oops:)

- Use minimum force. Keep your lead very light to avoid giving her extra momentum. Do not catapult her!

- Avoid moves that are likely to make her travel (CBL turns, free spins, etc.) and stick to moves that keep her close to you. Also avoid show-off moves that might over-excite her :roll:.

- If none of the above works, avoid dancing with her when the floor is crowded :lol:.

samina

12-13-2006, 09:26 AM

- Avoid moves that are likely to make her travel (CBL turns, free spins, etc.) and stick to moves that keep her close to you. .

yes!

and by all means, keep her away from music fixtures/light stands/speakers and such along the corners of the dance floor. can't tell you how many times, in the midst of insanely tight cirumstances, my lead has CBLed me into one of these. :roll:

englezul

12-13-2006, 09:33 AM

I can't believe we're still talking about this. This should be common sense.

Q: How not to bump your partener into every obstacle?
A: Simple. Do not be an idiot.

Houdinni

12-13-2006, 09:50 AM

It's feasible no to bump someone in a crowded space, it one's just carefull.

What I was looking for would be something in the lines of, if you invite a stanger to dance in a crowded space, and realize she overtravels a lot, can you still dance and enjoy, or will you just spend the majority of the time trying to control the space she requires for dancing...

Sabor

12-13-2006, 10:24 AM

What I was looking for would be something in the lines of, if you invite a stanger to dance in a crowded space, and realize she overtravels a lot, can you still dance and enjoy, or will you just spend the majority of the time trying to control the space she requires for dancing...

one would hope that follower here has enough sense to realise how much space is available and hence adjust herself accordingly..

if not.. i try to indicate it and make up for it by adjusting my style of motion..

if not.. then i simply ask her to minimize cause its friggin ridiculous

englezul

12-13-2006, 11:03 AM

one would hope that follower here has enough sense to realise how much space is available and hence adjust herself accordingly..

if not.. i try to indicate it and make up for it by adjusting my style of motion..

if not.. then i simply ask her to minimize cause its friggin ridiculous

Just lead her closer to you. Turn her in closer. Keep somewhat of a closed position. Stay centred. The second you feel she will go to far (before she actually does) match her speed and assume closed position again so it's easy to redirect her momentum. Really, not rocket science.

If she's really out of control smack her. No, don't do that unless you have an Indian parked outside, and the tatoo on your shoulder reads Hell's Angels.

LatinDancer006

12-13-2006, 12:29 PM

As the leader you can:

- Corner her. If you put her in a place where *she* can see there's not much room (e.g., edge of the floor, near a wall/pillar/tables/tree :lol:), she'll be more careful with her travelling habit (works for me! :oops:).....

Ohh. I'd avoid the first one, especially if you're dancing with someone who's been dancing for only a short period of time, never had any formal training except group classes, and she thinks she knows everything. I got a lecture from this one B!t@h for it. It was in a group class setting. The sequence we were doing called for a CBL with an insider turn. And eventhough there was enough space between us and the next couple, she still traveled right into the other couple. I can tell that she didn't do the turn correctly because her steps were too big, she ended with a step backward instead of her feet together and her arm was fully extended while mine had a little bend on it. Yeah, I'd avoid this one. Unless she's an experienced dancer, she won't be much aware of her surrounding. Regardless of how compact you try to keep it, there's always a chance that she won't get that. And if she hits something or someone, she'll blame it on you.:eyebrow:

LatinDancer006

12-13-2006, 12:34 PM

If she's really out of control smack her. No, don't do that unless you have an Indian parked outside, and the tatoo on your shoulder reads Hell's Angels.
:shock: :uplaugh: If all else fail....;-) or make sure her bf is not a HA who can beat you up. J/K.

MacMoto

12-13-2006, 04:45 PM

Ohh. I'd avoid the first one, especially if you're dancing with someone who's been dancing for only a short period of time, never had any formal training except group classes, and she thinks she knows everything. I got a lecture from this one B!t@h for it. It was in a group class setting. The sequence we were doing called for a CBL with an insider turn. And eventhough there was enough space between us and the next couple, she still traveled right into the other couple. I can tell that she didn't do the turn correctly because her steps were too big, she ended with a step backward instead of her feet together and her arm was fully extended while mine had a little bend on it.

Well that's why I suggested wall/pillar/tables/tree -- solid objects tend to be more visible to inexperienced dancers than other people on the floor :roll: :lol: (half joking -- but not entirely :roll:).

Houdinni

12-14-2006, 02:55 AM

if not.. then i simply ask her to minimize cause its friggin ridiculous

Might try this one at desperate times. I try to avoid it, because the point of inviting some beginners every night is so that they'll begin to build up confidence. Or balance karma since one day we too were beginners, and on smaller scenes, to build up the dance pool, since someday they'll possibly surpass us.

If she's really out of control smack her. No, don't do that unless you have an Indian parked outside, and the tatoo on your shoulder reads Hell's Angels.

Too good! :)

naturallove

12-14-2006, 08:04 AM

sweavo

12-14-2006, 08:46 AM

If she's letting her arms go straight, and it's a tight dance floor, partner hold is the only way forward!

englezul

12-14-2006, 09:34 AM

Might try this one at desperate times.

Yeah, I think actually bringing it up is a real state breaker. You can definitely count on having a bad dance deprived of chemistry after that little demand.

englezul

12-14-2006, 09:37 AM

(although I'd love to learn!) but one thing my instructor talks about a lot is the guy not making the woman travel a lot. When he social dances, he tends to travel around the woman, so she's almost dancing in place. This tends to be a little advanced and many guys have trouble mastering this technique. Now, of course, if the woman is fighting him in terms of arm tension and taking huge steps, it might not work out so well, but it is definitely a good way of controlling how much space two partners take up.

I think that's terrible advice. The woman has to travel because she's the reason why you're dancing. You're supposed to showcase her you can't do that by holding her on the spot. Besides it just looks stupid seeing the woman staying relatively in place and the leader going around time after time. When dancing you have to travel, that's what dancing is. So travel, even if it's very little, but keep her moving, and keep yourself moving. That's not an advanced technique, that's a mediocre way of getting around a problem blown out of proportion.

sweavo

12-14-2006, 10:24 AM

I think that's terrible advice. The woman has to travel because she's the reason why you're dancing. You're supposed to showcase her you can't do that by holding her on the spot.

I wouldn't advocate holding her on the spot, but neither should the guy stay put and throw her around the floor. What should be stationary is the position of the couple on the floor, so leaders must travel about as much as their followers, in the opposite direction... But to get beginner guys doing that, you need to emphasize that he should be travelling. Of course she will travel too.

naturallove

12-14-2006, 11:55 AM

I think that's terrible advice. The woman has to travel because she's the reason why you're dancing. You're supposed to showcase her you can't do that by holding her on the spot. Besides it just looks stupid seeing the woman staying relatively in place and the leader going around time after time. When dancing you have to travel, that's what dancing is. So travel, even if it's very little, but keep her moving, and keep yourself moving. That's not an advanced technique, that's a mediocre way of getting around a problem blown out of proportion.
Maybe you should see it done or try it before you knock it. It actually works quite well in terms of showcasing the woman--from personal experience, at least. There is some traveling, of course, but the goal is not to have the woman take huge steps around the man.

englezul

12-14-2006, 12:41 PM

Maybe you should see it done or try it before you knock it. It actually works quite well in terms of showcasing the woman--from personal experience, at least. There is some traveling, of course, but the goal is not to have the woman take huge steps around the man.

By the way you worded it previously it didn't sound anything like what sweavo is describing below. If that's what you meant (and from your most recent point that's what I would assume you meant), then I'm all for it. But you described it with "almost stationary" with the leader traveling around. And that is just ... not cool. :D

I wouldn't advocate holding her on the spot, but neither should the guy stay put and throw her around the floor. What should be stationary is the position of the couple on the floor, so leaders must travel about as much as their followers, in the opposite direction... But to get beginner guys doing that, you need to emphasize that he should be travelling. Of course she will travel too.

Exactly.