Following Is Not Easy

Part 3: Leader’s Observations of Paul as a Follower

By Paul Stachour

I know that, for a leader, it can be much more challenging to lead someone who does not yet follow well than someone who can perceive what is being led, and interpret that lead appropriately. To summarize from previous months' installments, I know that I need to work on perception, connection, and rotation in the follower role. However, that is not the full story. What would the typical leader who has danced with me say that I need to work on? They might answer: “Anticipation, Connection, and Displacement”.

First, when one is partner-dancing in the follower role, one should not anticipate. Unlike competitive or exhibition dancing where the moves are choreographed and known, in partner dancing the moves are not known in advance. This is both part of the fun and part of the problem. As a follower, I should not dance before the beat, nor should I anticipate the next pattern to be led. It is easy, especially when beginning in a group lesson setting, to just dance what one knows is coming next. But it is not correct for a follower to do so. I have been accused of anticipating by numerous partners; I have excused myself by indicating that I was not anticipating, that I was just not paying close enough attention. OK, OK. Whether it was anticipation on my part, or lack of perception on my part, the fault is mine.

Allow me to provide an example from Cha-Cha. The leader leads a cross-body lead. When I put my left foot down and rotate on beat two, I must be careful to not put my right foot down; not even the right foot’s toe. If I do, I’m breaking the turn/rotation, thus preventing the leader from the option of giving me a longer (whee!) rotation.