Everything we feel and experience is sensory inputs interpreted by brain.
Someday we will be able to generate that with a device transmitting signals to your brain
if your brain thinks it is a real life hug when it is not, will it matter 
The long-term solution is dual-role dancing?
- Thread starter itwillhappen
- Start date
Someday we will be able to generate that with a device transmitting signals to your brain
if your brain thinks it is a real life hug when it is not, will it matter Why is “bulk” important? It makes me suspect that, maybe, when you lead you are (maybe unconsciously?) relying on your “male bulk” to push-and-pull the Follow around? Or when you follow, it’s possible that you are not yet a sensitive enough dancer that you can pick up the subtlety of certain movements and need the lead-handling (man-handling) of pushing-pulling?Hmmm. Whilst in some respects I agree (and in many other aspects of a relationship). I find few women who appear to be good leads. Some certainly are! But they just serm don't have the physical 'bulk' for some aspects. But then, maybe I should really take advice from male leaders with lots more experience?
In my experience, as both Lead and Follow, use of “bulk” and “push-and-pull” are not needed, at least not with dancers who have a bit of training. (Disclaimer: I’m speaking as a ballroom dancer – so it may very well be that Argentine Tango requires a heavy-handed “bulk” approach.)
No it doesn’t. Leading following dynamics are the same irrespective of partner dancing. In social partner dancing the leader invites and awaits for follower to accept. People call the indication of invitation as signal, projection, or other things.
Surprisingly, when I follow female leaders who have switched to try leading, I often observe they try to use their arm and body to push pull me. Smaller their frame is the more they try to push pull
It's a shorthand to avoid further descriptive detail and a paucity of appropriate, acceptable, words occurring to me without entering gender wars. Call it 'strength', 'mass', 'presence', 'stature'. Any characteristic generally differentiating male from female 'sports'. And I emphasize 'generally'! There are exceptions! But I'm not considering females who might pass some special forces entry training.
But, consider a volcada or colgada as an example of an off-axis move. There's certainly a spread of both male and female build, but I'd recognise my personal limits with holding some larger female followers. Many female leads I observe just don't have the characteristics to hold and support some larger body safely.
Your point about had a bit of training may mask some of that.
No. It's led from the upper body. Frequently practice without using arms beyond providing a framework.
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I took the red pillEverything we feel and experience is sensory inputs interpreted by brain.
Someday we will be able to generate that with a device transmitting signals to your brain
.Miradamiranda
Well-Known Member
Bulk has importance but not one that can’t be overcome. I often dance with a female leader maybe half my weight and I have to be very conscious all the time to not pull her off balance. Her other qualities outweighs that challenge. Last night I danced with a very experienced female leader my exact height and body type, tall and strong, yet feminine. A lot of male dancers I routinely dance with don’t have her bulk. I’m very often encouraged to lead because of my body type but I’m always too busy having too much fun following.
Miradamiranda
Well-Known Member
It certainly would be useful in the context of a forum like this! So many of you I can only vaguely guess what it would be like dancing with based on words.
Yes. But is the training worthwhile? I emphasize the in general. There's a spectrum, and not all meet the required criteria. It's not an insult to the female sex! Just my observation. Maybe males just get away with it because of basic physical characteristics?
Zoom 'milongas' were tried during Covid lockdown. Not a good experience
In fact, pretty horrendous.It would need a quantum leap in technology - probably more prompted by the prospects of other horizontal virtual activities rather than dance but also giving a virtual room. This doesn't really seem to have progressed.
And was 'augmented reality' really meant, or was that just the output of a BS generator?
ArbeeNYC
Forum Master
Oh, I see. Yeah, I've never seen that.
You could make another thread askng people to describe their own dance styles
itwillhappen
Forum Master
Maybe it depends on how you define "leader".
I know of events, but also a milonga, where registration is required. And the organizers put on on polarity, there is no ambiguous "double role" box, you make your check mark at "leader" or "follower".
So in essence, you do your job, tanda by tanda, for hours. Of course, you can change roles sometimes, but to have fun, not because you're physically or mentally tired. And many women can't do that, and most don't even want to.
Short male Leads often do this, too (so do some tall male Leads).Surprisingly, when I follow female leaders who have switched to try leading, I often observe they try to use their arm and body to push pull me. Smaller their frame is the more they try to push pull
So, it just means that they haven't yet realized that "bulk" and push-pull aren't needed.
Again, from a ballroom perspective here, there are lots of ballroom couples who use lifts and off-axis positions in showdances - and those things are a LOT more about the technique of transitioning into-and-out of the position and balance within the position, than it is about the strength/bulk of the supporting partner.
But maybe volcadas/colgadas are different.