I can't know what he's doing, but it sounds like he's not going with you, which would be his part of the following, if he's trying to do that.
How to acheive the "Magic" Embrace
- Thread starter aaah
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I can't know what he's doing, but it sounds like he's not going with you, which would be his part of the following, if he's trying to do that.
Up to here I agree
If you are not trying to figure out in general terms what your follower wants led how do you decide what to lead?
The music and space available will have an influence and in part on what I lead and this is what produces some surprises, which I think followers like, but the general flow of what I am going to lead comes from what I feel my follower wants led. I think I know if I am on the right track by her response to what is led.
I lead according to the inspiration I find in the music. Of course, the floor can change my mind in a moment, or the way she does any movement.
I try to give my partner a dance that I create in that moment, according to all the influences present. I don't try to figure out what dance she would like me to give her.
That seems fair enough to me but I find that what I feel the follower wants has the most influence on me.
Another question which may or may not be related.
I have been going to more high powered festivals lately, by this I mean the average ability of the particpants is higher than that I which I was previously used to. These festivals are all in Northern Europe.
What I have noticed is the large number of lady leaders. Not single couple female leaders but female leaders that lead on equal terms to the men and will dance with all particants and generally speaking they are good followers as well. What's more I have noticed that they are generally as popular if not more popular than the average male leader.
I am wondering if
1 this is something that happens in other parts of the world
2 are us guys missing something. What I mean is do these lady leaders know what they want from being followers and they can reproduce this as leaders and maybe the guys don't have that knowledge.
I think all leaders should learn how to follow, for 3 reasons:
- It helps them to be followers, as I explained above
- It helps them to understand being on the receiving end of leads, which can be enlightening
- It opens their awareness of ways to dance when they receive the dance of other leaders
Thanks fore the above.
Looking at your list, I would say, using your number references:
1. In my opininion not relevant to our current discussion
2 The reaon for this is that allows leaders to understand more what followers want and how they want something led.
3 Gives leaders further ideas on how and what to lead.
It suggests to me that this is helps leaders understanding more what followers want led.
Profound insight... many leaders would quibble with it, but you may have a good point.
It may also be what distinguishes the average "good" leader from truly great leaders.
bastet
Active Member
I'm going to lean towards Anda and Zoopsia's direction of thought.
As a follow, when I step on the floor, I do not know what I want led. If I did, I would get on the other side and lead instead, and sometimes I do just that.
Part of what I do as a follower is give over to the leads interpretation of a song. And I am happy to be led whatever he wants to do and enjoy it (hoping that I have a good leader in front of me who is considerate of my comfort zone, abilities and has some musicality). Other than that, I have no presuppositions going in to a tanda with someone, and i don't go in to a tanda thinking- "I want to do lots of ochos", if that's the point ant was making. Musicality is a biggie for me, since that and the embrace are the ways I connect to my partner and the music to find a common dialogue. I hear the music, I react to his leads and how they fit with the music and my degree of "comfort" or safety within the embrace (that part being as Zoopsia said, at least partly on an emotional level).
So to answer Anda- what I like is consideration, respect, a clear and decisive lead (but clearly not brutish) that has some relation to the music I can understand. I don't mind if a lead can tell I liked something he just led and find ways to fit it in to the music, as long as it's clear. So if that is what ant was implying, I certainly think it has its place in a dance, but I'd be baffled if I thought a guy had to sit for 10 minutes and try to figure out what I like to be led.
As an aside, I also lead. I also am told I lead better than most guys witht he ladies I have danced with...(on the topic of why lady leaders get kudos and are guys missing the point)...My guess from having spent time leading is that I don't have a huge vocabulary, but I do try to lead what I know with clarity and I do try to lead with my whole body and put all my effort in to whichever role I am in at the time- like I mean it. I also know from having followed some of the pitfalls that just feel plain bad to a follow and so I try to avoid the ones I know about.
As a follow, when I step on the floor, I do not know what I want led. If I did, I would get on the other side and lead instead, and sometimes I do just that.
Part of what I do as a follower is give over to the leads interpretation of a song. And I am happy to be led whatever he wants to do and enjoy it (hoping that I have a good leader in front of me who is considerate of my comfort zone, abilities and has some musicality). Other than that, I have no presuppositions going in to a tanda with someone, and i don't go in to a tanda thinking- "I want to do lots of ochos", if that's the point ant was making. Musicality is a biggie for me, since that and the embrace are the ways I connect to my partner and the music to find a common dialogue. I hear the music, I react to his leads and how they fit with the music and my degree of "comfort" or safety within the embrace (that part being as Zoopsia said, at least partly on an emotional level).
So to answer Anda- what I like is consideration, respect, a clear and decisive lead (but clearly not brutish) that has some relation to the music I can understand. I don't mind if a lead can tell I liked something he just led and find ways to fit it in to the music, as long as it's clear. So if that is what ant was implying, I certainly think it has its place in a dance, but I'd be baffled if I thought a guy had to sit for 10 minutes and try to figure out what I like to be led.
As an aside, I also lead. I also am told I lead better than most guys witht he ladies I have danced with...(on the topic of why lady leaders get kudos and are guys missing the point)...My guess from having spent time leading is that I don't have a huge vocabulary, but I do try to lead what I know with clarity and I do try to lead with my whole body and put all my effort in to whichever role I am in at the time- like I mean it. I also know from having followed some of the pitfalls that just feel plain bad to a follow and so I try to avoid the ones I know about.
I hope that some day I get to dance with you.
bastet
Active Member
I was there Memorial Day weekend (had a great time, BTW). I wanted to go again on Labor day, but it's not looking very likely. Not sure yet when I'll return.aww...shucks....going to Denver at all???:friend:
bastet
Active Member
I had a friend who went Mem Day and enjoyed it (though that's not really his style) and the class line up looks really enjoyable. I've had some of the classes before with the same teachers, but thought it was too good to pass up having them all in one spot at the same time. And being there will certainly beat being in the heat down here in Texas.
Maybe Zoopsia will chime in here soon? Or Peaches?
We had a whole thread on that, and quite a few of the leaders reading it had issues with what the followers said on that thread.
aww...shucks....going to Denver at all???
Back off cutie! He's MINE! :twisted: