the ratio of follows to leaders here in Essex is 5/6 follows to 1 lead.
What's wrong with Essex men (ignoring stereotypes)?
Small groups can appear worse! Occasionally at a milonga it has seemed that there's a significant surplus of followers, but it has balanced out later.
I have heard of one group/milonga which seemed to attract more followers. An acquaintance went to one milonga there to find he was greatly outnumbered by followers for the evening. It put him off going again
Nothing wrong with decorations (adornos), except when there's too many - which begs the question:
When is it too many? I recall, and avoid, the hyperactive follower where every step seemed to have an adorno, such that I could simply have provided support leaving her to do the moves.
Have you had other teachers? Or travelled to other workshops with other teachers, or visiting teachers? Perhaps some. Argentinians sofa-surfing through?
In a dance with no standards, choose teachers wisely - and recognise their limits. Fortunately we've had extremely good teachers as we've progressed. But, until you've sampled some others, and had reviews from people they've taught, it can be difficult to judge. Our initial lessons weren't, let's say, constructive, but that teacher left. Their successors proved much better. We also had the advantage of travelling and spending time in other locations for lessons. Also workshops with some good visiting teachers. Which led us to those we'd probably consider our 'coaches', and also to recognise some who weren't great.
You do need to find someone, or a group, prepared to act as a dance partner for practice and for such events which may be role-balanced. And, I guess that's where group lessons come in for social contacts. I'm in a fortunate minority where my wife and I have danced, and practiced, together for many years in AT and other dance firms. However there are still people from earlier group classes who we'd practice with.
