The most important part of social dancing is knowing your job and sticking to it. Below is a copy of the handout we provide during our Leading & Following 101 lesson. Following these guidelines will make your learning and practicing time an enjoyable experience for both you and you partner.
Social Dance Tips
Social Dance Tips for Couples:
- Dance with your partner, not at them. Social dancing is about teamwork, not stealing the limelight.
- It’s ok to mess up. You will make mistakes. When you do, regroup & start again. Don’t assign blame and never make corrections in the middle of the dance floor.
- Do your job, not your partner’s. He leads, she follows. Period.
- Stand up straight and carry your own weight. Shoulders back, tummy tucked in, head tall. Don't make your partner hold you up.
- Communicate! Congratulate the successes and work out the failures. Tell your partner what you need from them without pointing fingers. Be proud of each other!
- Maintain eye contact and smile at each other. You like each other, right? If not, maybe you need a different partner!
- Always remember: DANCING IS FUN! Learning to move together as one means give and take, good communication, and pateince. When it starts to get rough give each other a hug and remember why you are here!
Social Dance Tips for Leaders:
- Reach out and touch your partner – If you are afraid to touch her, you cannot lead her properly.
- Think ahead – You must know which move you are going to do before you do it. Think it through, prep, and execute.
- Communicate with confidence – Be strong and consistent in your lead. A wishy-washy lead is impossible to follow and tempting to correct.
- Be alert – Your partner is putting herself in your hands so make sure she is safe on the dance floor. Watch where you are going!
- Make it a thrill – Your job is to make your partner shine. Treat her like the queen she is!
Social Dance Tips for Followers:
- Follow, follow, follow! Don’t lead – No matter how tempting it is, it is not your job to lead. When you backlead, you undermine his lead and give him the message that he is incompetant. Trust him!
- Listen, don’t anticipate – Let your partner tell you what to do and when to do it. Don’t try to guess his next move.
- Don’t be a backseat driver – It’s just as distracting on the dance floor as it is in the car. If you need or want something, ask while practicing, not dancing.
- Be patient with your partner. As the leader, he has to do more thinking on his feet than you do. Be patient.
- Provide a good frame – No matter how good the lead is, you won’t receive it if you have spaghetti-arms. Maintain your dance space and give him something to hold on to.
- Enjoy the ride – Put yourself completely in your partner’s hands and trust his lead. Relax and enjoy yourself!
- (adapted from The Swing Book by Degen Pener)