I want to add one important one. MAKING SURE YOU PREPARE FOR YOUR NEXT MOVE !!!. From observing and when I used to teach, no matter what level, so many leaders are not picking up the preparation queues for the next move which then leads to forcing that move and that makes things uncomfortable and usually miss out on the timing too. Also a little one. Don't be afraid to take your time with body movements. If you are learning a new move you can always slow it down further so you can learn it better before doing it faster.
Honestly the point about leaders trying to do advanced moves with beginner followers!!! This is something as a beginner that I found so frustrating because it actually makes you feel really rubbish about your dancing. When you're new you think it's all your fault why the dance doesn't feel good. Now I've been dancing for a few months I've realised some leaders are just there to dance to their own beat, it's about them showing off and not about connecting with you. And this can also be the same for some teachers on the dance floor!! My favourite dances are ones where I can tell the leader has read my level and adjusted the dance accordingly. They make me feel like a beautiful dancer. It's fine to try new moves, but if I haven't got the first crazy a arm move then probably you can tell I can't do them... So stop!! A simple dance can still be beautiful.
Another common mistake I find with my leaders is them not preparing me for a move properly. They "prepare" on 4 and 1 and then try to rush me through the move. They should be preparing on 3 and 4 so I know exactly what's coming on 1 and then have time to prepare myself. Leaders need to remember that the "follower" is doing exactly that, we are having to follow half a second behind you... so you need to give us more notice of your next move please! 🙃 P.S. Also, leads that are too gentle/ambiguous
Just a few comments on point no. 1 You say that leaders should not assume that the followers are comfortable with sensual bachata, but i think followers also have to be aware of this. I had an experience (when I just started Bachata) where the follower put her arms around my neck and held me extremely close and I had pushed her away out of shock because I wasn't used to dancing that close. I've danced with a lot of followers who assumed that just because I get them into the closed position that I want to dance sensual. However now this isn't a problem for me now as I know how dance sensual. How do you think we can avoid this problem, should I ask the follower if she's comfortable with sensual before we can start dancing?
Very interesting video, thank you Rasa. It's only my opinion but I believe in only, " raising a follower 1 level. i.e. I mean I don't think an improver level to advanced is right either in social dance. Neither beginners try an intermediate move. The reason I believe 1 level up maximum is that the follower is going to feel stimulated for 1 level up without loosing the quality or not having their confidence knocked or feeling pressure/uncomfortable. I ask the question, why would a lead push a follower 2 levels up ? Very rarely this desire would come from a follower so the only scenario I can think of is where they both know each other, maybe from classes etc ? Even so I think only an advanced lead or teaching lead could do this not to the detriment of the follower. Cheers 👍
I want to add one important one. MAKING SURE YOU PREPARE FOR YOUR NEXT MOVE !!!. From observing and when I used to teach, no matter what level, so many leaders are not picking up the preparation queues for the next move which then leads to forcing that move and that makes things uncomfortable and usually miss out on the timing too.
Also a little one. Don't be afraid to take your time with body movements. If you are learning a new move you can always slow it down further so you can learn it better before doing it faster.
You always have very good points, thank you for your input, really means a lot 🙏
Honestly the point about leaders trying to do advanced moves with beginner followers!!! This is something as a beginner that I found so frustrating because it actually makes you feel really rubbish about your dancing. When you're new you think it's all your fault why the dance doesn't feel good. Now I've been dancing for a few months I've realised some leaders are just there to dance to their own beat, it's about them showing off and not about connecting with you. And this can also be the same for some teachers on the dance floor!! My favourite dances are ones where I can tell the leader has read my level and adjusted the dance accordingly. They make me feel like a beautiful dancer. It's fine to try new moves, but if I haven't got the first crazy a arm move then probably you can tell I can't do them... So stop!! A simple dance can still be beautiful.
Absolutely, that's why I keep talking about this subject, hoping somebody will hear it and think about it 😅
Another common mistake I find with my leaders is them not preparing me for a move properly. They "prepare" on 4 and 1 and then try to rush me through the move. They should be preparing on 3 and 4 so I know exactly what's coming on 1 and then have time to prepare myself. Leaders need to remember that the "follower" is doing exactly that, we are having to follow half a second behind you... so you need to give us more notice of your next move please! 🙃
P.S. Also, leads that are too gentle/ambiguous
Uuuu...Good one, preparations is definitely sooo important ! 😏
Great video
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Great video🥰
Thank you x
Good video😍
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... let's see how many I score ...
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True story!
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Just a few comments on point no. 1
You say that leaders should not assume that the followers are comfortable with sensual bachata, but i think followers also have to be aware of this.
I had an experience (when I just started Bachata) where the follower put her arms around my neck and held me extremely close and I had pushed her away out of shock because I wasn't used to dancing that close. I've danced with a lot of followers who assumed that just because I get them into the closed position that I want to dance sensual.
However now this isn't a problem for me now as I know how dance sensual. How do you think we can avoid this problem, should I ask the follower if she's comfortable with sensual before we can start dancing?
Leon I agree with you 100 precent and have a look at video I made few weeks ago, that's literally the first point 😂😂😂 so yeah definitely 😄
Very interesting video, thank you Rasa. It's only my opinion but I believe in only, " raising a follower 1 level. i.e. I mean I don't think an improver level to advanced is right either in social dance. Neither beginners try an intermediate move.
The reason I believe 1 level up maximum is that the follower is going to feel stimulated for 1 level up without loosing the quality or not having their confidence knocked or feeling pressure/uncomfortable.
I ask the question, why would a lead push a follower 2 levels up ? Very rarely this desire would come from a follower so the only scenario I can think of is where they both know each other, maybe from classes etc ? Even so I think only an advanced lead or teaching lead could do this not to the detriment of the follower. Cheers 👍
I agree with you, one is the most comfortable, 2 in cases very rarely but definitely 1 level is the most common and comfortable ground 😉