What is important for ladies in a dance?

[David_In_CA]

One of them has a very heavy follow. It takes a relatively large amount of force to communicate to her what I'm asking for, which makes her somewhat sluggish to respond to a lead.

My impression, as a lead that has been learning how to follow, is that it's nearly impossible to be a decent follow without being self-mobilizing. Good follows that feel very heavy are still self-mobilizing; they're still in charge of responding to the lead, using the floor and moving themselves from foot to foot. I would think that it would be extremely difficult to dance with someone who simply picked up their feet and put them down, and relied on the lead to physically move them across the floor. Maybe it's different in the really close ballroom holds?

 

[David_In_CA]

As a judge I see this ALL THE TIME. That is one of the first things look for actually with pro-am. I erase the teacher and just see what the student is actually producing on their own with regard to movement from foot to foot.

What are you hoping to see from the follows in that aspect when you judge? It would be really interesting to know what an expert like you looks for.

It's hard to imagine that there are follows who don't move themselves at all, but can get through a dance. That sounds like it would make for quite a workout on the lead's part, moving 80+ lbs around the floor for several minutes.

 

[fiesta0618]

That sounds like it would make for quite a workout on the lead's part, moving 80+ lbs around the floor for several minutes.

Oh, it definitely is! Really puts the "sport" in Dancesport

 

[lucia_l]

My husband is small (<120 lbs). He definitely complains about women he needs to really push on to get to turn. There's another who has a back step in swing that is so violent she pulls the lead a lot. She's not heavy for her height, but tall. So it really pulls him.

Other follows pushing and pulling on him is one of the reasons he only likes to dance with me. I mostly turn myself when he leads a turn.

Having said that, I having been mobilizing enough on smooth-- but it hasn't mattered too much with Jim because he doesn't zoom around the floors like the pro. I'm getting better at "zooming" myself with lessons. I don't care how big and strong the guy is, if I don't move myself on progressive steps there is no way we are going to fly across the floor!

 

[David_In_CA]

The majority of syllabus dancers do not produce their own movement. Let's just say a third of them fall from foot to foot, another third need to be pulled from foot to foot. Maybe a final third actually produce movement for themselves from the earth. Definitely the majority are not self-motoring.

, thank you for breakdown and explanation!

 

[snapdancer]

The majority of syllabus dancers do not produce their own movement. Let's just say a third of them fall from foot to foot, another third need to be pulled from foot to foot.

I find this observation quite interesting. That's not my perception as a social dancer. I am aware of some women who fall to the next foot, and others who are refrigerators. Those I don't care to dance with.

Could be a matter of perception. I'm willing to put up with a certain amount of skill lacking, as long as it's not painful to dance with them. With a bad knee, I am sensitive to women who fall on me or require effort to move.

As a professional, you can see things that even as an experienced social leader I either can't feel or filter out. Or perhaps most ladies who fall onto the next foot don't fall onto their leaders for some reason. A small factor may be a few of the ladies who can't social dance but want to dance and look pretty and need a pro to haul them around a competition floor, but I think those are a distinct minority. (I also see equivalent leaders.)

 

[tangotime]

A small factor may be a few of the ladies who can't social dance but want to dance and look pretty and need a pro to haul them around a competition floor,

but I think those are a distinct minority.

Far more than you realise !!..

 

[Salserika]

For me, as a follower, the most important qualities are musicality, musicality and musicality. Of course, good leading is a pre-requisite.

 

[snapdancer]

For me, as a follower, the most important qualities are musicality, musicality and musicality. Of course, good leading is a pre-requisite.

Numbers please, you have 3 points to allocate between leading and musicality. Keep in mind that these leaders are amateurs. If you demand perfection, cross your fingers and hire a pro.

 

[Salserika]

Numbers please, you have 3 points to allocate between leading and musicality. Keep in mind that these leaders are amateurs. If you demand perfection, cross your fingers and hire a pro.

I have danced with plenty of amateur leaders who are not 'pro' and nowhere near 'perfection', but have great musicality. Conversely, I have danced with plenty of so-called 'pro' who more or less ignore the music and just do crazy combinations and spins. Might as well switch off the music and they still do the same stuff. Musicality comes from the heart and appreciation of music, and it doesn't have to take complicated moves or professional status to express musicality.

So in effect,
Musicality - 3 points
leading - 2 points
fun - I don't really know what that means really, good musicality makes the dance fun for me