What the best followers do differently 💡

There's so much to think about when learning to dance: posture, frame, footwork, styling.

But if you want to really connect with a partner, this is my top tip for followers to make every dance feel heavenly ✨

Slow Down So You Can Feel The Lead 🐢

Following is a challenging skill.

I've spent three decades practicing the art of following and I'm still working on it.

As humans, we're used to moving our own bodies - when we want, where we want.

And it's a beautiful thing as ballroom dancers to move as one.

But that's only possible, when we as followers, s-l-o-w down...

I think we understand this intellectually, but it's very difficult to do in practice because we don't want to be late and mess up the move 😬

As a follower, it's better to be late than to be early ⚠️

A leader can work with late, there's nothing they can do if you step before they do.

You've cut off all future options for them at that point.

Be present and move your body in response to each signal from your partner, one step at a time.

Not one figure at a time - one weight change at a time.

For example:
Feel the invitation to take a backward step, then wait - the next step could be anywhere: back, forward, side, diagonally forward, replace of weight, or a pause.

So while you do need to learn your patterns, when you're dancing - don't think in terms of full figures.

"Ok, they led an open break so that means we'll be dancing a shoulder check next"

Because many moves start the same way, and you'll never correctly guess the future 100% of the time.

Following is a Feeling ✨

Move with trust, knowing that where you feel the invitation to step is where the leader is inviting you to go.

It's not about being a mind reader and trying to guess what comes next.

Follow the feeling, and you can't go wrong 💞

Stay tuned and check out our other Blogs for more dance tips 💡