Taking the lead: So you think you can challenge gender roles in dance?

[ralf]

(One of the challenges if there is more than one point of contact is determining which is primary and which is supplemental.)

Normally, whichever is closer to your core is the primary (i.e. hand become supplemental if there's also a connection on your back or hip). But even with a physical connection, visuals are still important, especially as supplements.

If a WCS performance could be danced exactly the same to a different piece of music, it's not Championship level; it's probably not even Intermediate level.

I'd say it would have difficulty making finals in Novice at larger events.

I missed the Switch It Up comp at MADjam since I was only there in the evenings, but did spend my time in the second room during the two hours of Role Play on Friday late-night and two hours of Steal Zone on Saturday late-night (non-traditional-role/switch dancing, and multiperson partner stealing as in the Three for All video I posted, respectively). Lots of fun to be had by switching things up.

 

[Zhena]

Normally, whichever is closer to your core is the primary (i.e. hand become supplemental if there's also a connection on your back or hip). But even with a physical connection, visuals are still important, especially as supplements.

I suppose I could/should have said for the follower "recognizing, in the moment and without conscious thought, which point of contact is primary and responding to it appropriately." I know the theory. I just struggle with putting it in practice.

I left it as a neutral statement because the leader should also know where the follower perceives the lead. Everything works reasonably well when the information provided at the primary and secondary points of contact is consistent and I as a follower don't have to prioritize. It gets tricky when a leader provides less pronounced information at the point closer to my core that actually conflicts with stronger information from the point farther from my core.

This brings up an interesting effect of the shutdown. DH and I have continued private Zoom lessons with our teacher, so I have had only one partner for the last few months. My teacher says I appear more confident. I think it is because I have become accustomed to consistent, clear information and I'm not subconsciously prepping myself for poor leads. I'm better at truly waiting for a lead, because I KNOW it will come. I really do enjoy attempting to follow different leads at many different ability levels. but as long as I'm restricted to one partner it's nice to know I can rely on DH.

 

[ralf]

Just posted to /r/WestCoastSwing: J&J all-skate where there seems to have been an extra lead. So we start off with two guys dancing together (while the woman they would have been partnered with sits down and watches them), then they go off and steal other partners. At 4:19, we even have a non-contestant steal in!