Posts

How Bad Leaders Create Bad Followers on the Dance Floor

/in /by

swing dance lessons ArizonaLet’s face it, when you go out Country Western dancing or Salsa dancing, it’s mostly the blind leading the blind, right? Unless you’ve taken adult dance lessons and you’re going out with friends who have also taken lessons, you’re mostly going to be dancing with others who have no idea what they’re doing. While I absolutely give these people credit for having the courage to “wing it” on the dance floor, there are a multitude of bad habits that are passed on from one untrained dancer to the next. Again, kudos to all that have the confidence to step into the dance floor, but yes, a bad leader on the dance floor can in turn create a bad follower. Here’s how:

  1. What we like to affectionately refer to the “Tug and Pull” is a perfect example of how a poor lead can create a monster on the dance floor. For example: You don’t know how to get her to go from point A to point B on the dance floor, so you “make” her go by ripping her arm out of the socket with one swift yank. She does what you want and all is well, right? Wrong! Now she won’t move until you tug and pull her around the floor, essentially manhandling her. Gentlemen, whether you’re Two Stepping or Swing dancing, a great lead is one that includes finesse and control. Make the investment into some Private Dance Lessons to discover how to get her to move without having to workout at the gym before you go dancing. She’ll soon feel light as a butterfly and you won’t need Advil for those sore muscles the next day.

2. Speaking of not having control on the dance floor, when leaders are all over the place and cannot contain their movements, we ladies tend to get dragged along for the ride, further developing the bad habit of sloppy movements that are not well-executed. Leaders, you can look and feel great to the women you dance with once you focus on my favorite concept on the dance floor which is “less really is more”. Formal instruction will help you to get the right information you need to have a successful night out Latin dancing, Swing dancing or Country dancing.

3. Lastly, and I’m not sure why, but there can be a lot of blaming involved when things don’t go right on the dance floor. People, it’s not easy to partner dance. No one is born knowing how to Tango. It does take time, training and patience. Not taking responsibility if things are not perfect is only going to add to the problem, just like it would in any partnership off the dance floor. So, when you’re learning to dance as a couple, please take responsibility for your part. It is a 50/50 partnership. Guys, take care of and protect your dance partner, and ladies, be kind, patient and please let him lead!

If you’re interested in starting with social dance lessons in popular dance styles like Country Western, Latin or Swing dancing, come try our Introductory Offer for beginner’s dance lessons at Dance FX Studios in the Phoenix East Valley. We’re located just off the 101 highway. When done correctly, social ballroom dancing is a blast! Let us show you how to strut your stuff on the dance floor.

 

Three Things to Consider When Learning to Social Dance

/in /by

all about social dancing in ArizonaHave you been thinking about learning to Country dance? Does taking Salsa lessons sound like a blast? Is Swing dancing something you have always wanted to do? If you answered “Yes!” to any of these questions, let the fun begin!!!

Chances are, you have been thinking about learning to social dance as a new hobby for quite some time. It has even been on your bucket list, thanks to iconic movies like Dirty Dancing and Grease. There’s truly no better time than now to get started! After all, the sooner you begin, the sooner you can get off the sidelines and onto that dance floor. No longer will you be that guy or gal that is propped up against the bar while everyone else is enjoying each other on the dance floor.

Now that you’re ready to pull the trigger and make your dreams of becoming a confident dancer a reality, let me guide you with three helpful things to consider when learning to social dance.

First, choose your dances wisely. While it would be great to know every dance, I recommend starting with three. A fast, medium and slow tempo dance is sufficient in the beginning stages of learning to ballroom dance. If you mainly hang out a Country bars because you’re a Country music fan, as an example, start by letting your dance instructor know. Ask for his/her suggestion on the top three Country dances to explore. I would tell you to go ahead with the Country Two Step, Country Swing and Nite Club Two Step as your main dances to learn. From there, we can explore other exciting styles like West Coast Swing, Country Waltz and even Line Dancing, but one thing at a time… Focusing on one dance at a time is not a great idea, and neither is going to the opposite extreme by overloading yourself with too many styles.

Next, take the shortest route and get the fastest results by taking Private Dance Lessons. Whether you’re discovering Country, Swing or Latin dancing, you will need one-on-one dance instruction to really understand the details of how to lead, follow and connect with a dance partner. These details cannot be taught in a group setting with multiple people all at different levels and with different learning styles, but with private instruction, you can have your lesson tailored to you.

Lastly, be patient with yourself as you learn. Taking on partner dancing as an adult is a wonderful hobby and will provide an outlet for meeting new friends, relieving stress and having fun, but it does take more than a lesson or two to get to that point. Give yourself the amount of time you would to learn a new language, or pick up an instrument as you learn. It can take a few months, or maybe longer to get in your muscle memory. Once you have it though, you will know how to dance comfortably and naturally for the rest of your life.

Knowing how to social dance is challenging, exciting, and mainly, rewarding! Give yourself time to go through the process and you will have a skill that will keep your social calendar filled for years to come. Happy dancing!