feel-good follow

[goldfish]

pretty sure most follows have had those leads where the minute they pull you into their arms.... woah :wink: and i'm not talking about how cute they are, it's in the frame maybe, that magic something in the *way* they hold you

now whatsit about a follow that feels great in a lead's arms? pretty face blah blah aside. i've noticed some follows' hands on the leads shoulders, some towards the back, some with more tension in their arms, some with less, some who sit into the leads hands, some who don't, some who are straighter, some more relaxed... what feels better for the lead?

 

[suek]

pretty sure most follows have had those leads where the minute they pull you into their arms.... woah :wink: and i'm not talking about how cute they are, it's in the frame maybe, that magic something in the *way* they hold you

now whatsit about a follow that feels great in a lead's arms? pretty face blah blah aside. i've noticed some follows' hands on the leads shoulders, some towards the back, some with more tension in their arms, some with less, some who sit into the leads hands, some who don't, some who are straighter, some more relaxed... what feels better for the lead?

Interesting...as a dedicated follower who's now learning to lead, I think you're on the right track when you say that it's something about the way they hold you, and for a follow, it would be (it follows?) that it's something about the way they are held.

When I follow, I move into, and move with my lead, even before we are in embrace. Here's a very important indicator of what will likely be a good dance: when my lead and I (talking as a follow) move softly together and connect in closed position. Swaying, jockeying--before doing any "steps"--we begin to feel each other and initiate and deepen our connection. The communication has begun. Me, my partner, the music... I always assume we will start in closed, even and especially in lindy hop, and those unfortunate times when my lead backs away from my offered embrace and grabs my right hand and hauls me into a swingout before even making eye contact with me, the dance is likely to be some variety of sucky.

Relaxation essential, connection essential. Where and how the hands are placed, what posture are driven by the dance and the body. IMHO relaxation and connection transcend everything and are supremely important. IMHO.

 

[Chris Stratton]

I was suprised in a group class the other day that the woman who seemed to most naturally and comfortably fit herself into my idea of a classic hold was actually someone who throughout her entire career has primarily danced as a leader.

I don't know if this was due to pure coincidence, awareness of details brought on by thinking about things from both directions, or personal knowledge of exactly what a leader wants from a follower.