Walt Medicis Dance Studio in Syracuse, New York
Walt Medicis Dance Studio
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Walt Medicis Dance Studio in Syracuse, New York
[Dance Terminology]     [Leading & Following]    

Guidelines for Leading and Following

Essentials for Good Leading

  1. Maintain good posture in the upper body. Make sure that the shoulders are relaxed and slightly back. Look forward down the line of dance.
  2. When leading, always begin dancing with the LEFT FOOT.
  3. Ensure you are pressing firmly with your left hand on your follower’s right hand. This is called resistance.
  4. Keep a strong yet relaxed frame. Your body and arm movements should follow the steps.
  5. Know a step thoroughly before attempting to lead it, and dance it with assurance.
  6. Dance in time with the music and in sync with the accented beat.
  7. Hold the follower firmly to give her a sense of security, but do not restrict her movement.
  8. Know the proper lead indications for each change of positions, direction, or step; give them subtly, but make them definite. Know what you intend to do sufficiently in advance of the movement.
  9. Know a variety of steps and rhythms, but when dancing with a new partner, use only the basic steps until you have ascertained her ability to follow your lead.
  10. If a partner is not an apt follower, hold her slightly more firmly than usual. Repeat a step several times before changing steps.
Essentials for Good Following

  1. Maintain good posture in the upper body. Make sure that the shoulders are relaxed and slightly back. Look slightly left over the leader’s right shoulder.
  2. When following, always begin dancing with the RIGHT FOOT.
  3. Ensure you are pressing firmly with your right hand on your leader’s left hand. This is called resistance.
  4. Keep a strong yet relaxed frame. Your body and arm movements should follow the steps.
  5. Know a step thoroughly before attempting to follow it, and dance it with assurance.
  6. Dance in time with the music and in sync with the accented beat.
  7. Keep your left side muscles firm in the man's right hand. Keep hips forward, leaning back slightly with your head and shoulders.
  8. Be sure to support the weight of your own arms. Make curves, not sharp points, of your elbows and hold them up rather than draping them on the leaders arms. Do ensure there is contact between his arms and yours.
  9. The lady “follows” in social dancing, yet her role is far from mere passivity. She contributes fully to the partnership by her instantaneous response to the lead.
  10. DON'T be the girl who says, “All I need is a good leader.” Instead say, “I CAN FOLLOW ANYONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO DANCE.”