Peaches
Well-Known Member
Amen to that!
so I finally backtalked to a dancefloor lecturer
- Thread starter noobster
- Start date
I think there is a distinction between a rough lead and a powerful lead. A rough lead is extremely unpleasant and occasionally physically painful. But there are plenty of leads out there who aren't actually rough, but they just put a lot of power into their movements. They can be quite connected dancers too.
Part of my problem with them is that my core is just not as stable as it might be; so the force exerted by a power leader tends to pull me off my center. With a light leader it is much easier for me to dance consistently in my center. I guess I am resistant to putting any force opposing the lead's into my body (even in the service of maintaining my center) because I feel like it is going to make me less sensitive to the signals. On the other hand, it's not like power leads are sending such subtle signals in the first place, so I suppose I just need to get over that for them.
quixotedlm
Active Member
I used to believe that to condone power-leads was just being respectful of diversity. I no longer subscribe to that notion - I'm increasingly realizing that power-leading is just bad leading.
Really? What made you change your mind?
I am really not ready to say that power-leading is bad leading per se. I can think of some power leads who are well connected, not rough, etc. They're great dancers. They dance beautifully with followers who are used to their method (not me). They're just a little... well, powerful.
naturallove
New Member
The guy I was referring to is a ROUGH lead---and I am trying to enjoy myself and not fight to maintain my balance! I don't like a lead to be so light that I don't know what's going on, but leading by brute force is not cool!
Amen brother!
quixotedlm
Active Member
Leading and Following simply provides a framework for dancing - it's not dancing in itself (but perhaps forms a big piece of what we see as dancing). Being a 'power-lead' takes away a lot of freedom from the follower who now has to constantly work on providing enough resistance and absorbing loads of momentum. It just doesn't fit well with my view of dancing as series of invitation-response communication. The power-lead takes away the ability/freedom of the follower to refuse an invitation, or interpret it in her own way. If I had to verbalize a power-lead triple spin, I'd hear it as, "Bitch! I own you. Spin-Spin-Spin-STOP!!!" or something like that...
A friend of mine demanded (jokingly), "Now shine for me b*tch!" during a dance on Sunday. I used my shine moment to kick him in the arse.
samina
Well-Known Member
quixotedlm
Active Member
ok, here is an example. In salsa, I like to throw in occasional inside turns (aka left turn). Dancing on-1, the follower turns left on 6, and the lead happens around 5/5.5/6. It's one of those turns that goes over the end of the bar, and is really only finished on the 1 or 2 in the next bar. Most followers just turn faster and get done with it in 6,7
It's somewhat unconventional (i.e., when not combined with a CBL), but fun to do. I can also just lead it by leading her hips (no hand hold). Occasionally, I'd be doing something and lead it somewhat suddenly on 6. Sometimes, I'm a tad bit late,and many followers simply won't do the turn, and do something else instead (like look confused, or do some cool body rolls, or just shine). Some will start late and do it anyway. Some will turn fast and end on 7, others will turn fast and spin twice and get back to me by 1/2 (which timing wise is just fine). There are quite a few varied responses here, most of them being legit. All I've really done here is give her a bit of a torque around 5.5/6 to her left, and let her decide how she wants to respond (or respond with a turn preferably, but it's okay to not turn). If I were a power lead, I'd move her around regardless and make her do the turn. Another example is dipping - many followers like grander dips, while many others prefer only 'sits'. I don't dip anyone in general, but the rare occasions when I do dips, it starts off as a gentle 'sit' kind of a dip, and then feeds off the followers energy and willingness to decide whether the 'sit' becomes a grander dip or not.
In general, I don't find this to be a very specialized personal philosophy of mine. The articulation might be unique to me, but most leaders and followers that I've grown to respect (and are more pouplar and seem to be enjoying themselves more) tend to follow a dancing philosophy that's very close to this one.
A friend of mine demanded (jokingly), "Now shine for me b*tch!" during a dance on Sunday. I used my shine moment to kick him in the arse.
try the other side
pielcanela
New Member
I am so proud of you noobster