Keeping Your Energy Directed "Up"

[Peaches]

Yep. Big difference between trying it a second time in case it was you...and trying it again, and again, and again...and using more and more and more force so that she'll "get it" eventually.

 

[bastet]

Yep. Big difference between trying it a second time in case it was you...and trying it again, and again, and again...and using more and more and more force so that she'll "get it" eventually.

Luckily- he didn't try to use excess force, but it just emphasized to me some leaders complete lack of empathy for the partner. She was embarrassed and flustered and felt so bad about her dancing she almost didn't go out to the milongas because she was sure she "wasn't good enough". Luckily I talked her out of that and she had a great time at her first milonga the next day.

 

[Madahlia]

Sometimes, it's not as much ignoring the input, but rather not understanding the input. If I lead a step and it doesn't go as expected, my first thought is that I didn't make the lead clear enough, (and not that she can't, or chooses not to do the step).

Well, that's reasonable enough. I frequently don't "get" what the leader is trying to ask me to do, either through my fault or his, but it's only rarely that I'm bl**dy-minded enough to refuse to do what I know he's asking for.

But it does happen. Random ganchos to a smooth, elegiac tune comes to mind. Just you try to make me swing my leg, bonny lad!