Author Topic: How to... improve the lady's follow (Read 2093 times)

John Gimber: Webmaster · « **on:** January 24, 2005, 08:20 PM »

There's lots of talk about the men trying to improve, but... how can a lady improve in her following technique?

Are there techniques to employ, 'cos when I dance as a lady (not as dodgy as it sounds, honest!) I have a tendency to lead every chance I get.

Are there ways to get out of that?

Or... is it simply not possible for a woman to improve the follow? (ooooh contentious!)

John.

Lou · « **Reply #1 on:** January 25, 2005, 07:25 AM »

Quote from: John Gimber: Webmaster on January 24, 2005, 08:20 PM

Or... is it simply not possible for a woman to improve the follow? (ooooh contentious!)

Well, that's a really daft thing to say!

Everyone can improve at something if they want to, and if they practice.

Some IMHO thoughts on techniques:

Stop being a control freak. (I found that one hardest! )
Relax & listen to what the lead is asking you to do. Listen to every step of the move - don't just assume that because they've started a particular move, they'll finish it the same way....
Maintain a good connection with your leader.
Dance with as many leads as you can, in order to feel a variety of techniques. Don't limit yourself to those star dancers who can lead anybody (and ladies, you know who I mean!) There's more to be learned in dancing with a less experienced lead too.
Watch other dancers.
If you can, dance the lead part & feel what other followers do. What things do and don't you like about their dances?
In class, try to ignore the teacher. Just concentrate on the leads your partner is giving you. (OK - unless he's lost, in which case it's OK to help him out!

marty_baby · « **Reply #2 on:** January 25, 2005, 09:09 AM »

Hiya Lou,

"Relax & listen to what the lead is asking you to do. Listen to every step of the move - don't just assume that because they've started a particular move, they'll finish it the same way.... "

Thats the problem I get a lot of the time! bang on....

The rest is sounds good advice as well!

Lou · « **Reply #3 on:** January 25, 2005, 10:28 AM »

Marty - I was a frightful follower!

I was sooooooo guilty of anticipation (but I think it's 'cos I didn't know any better

) I've spent the last year trying to improve a bit (but sometimes I can still be a bit naughty

).

ClaireLSt · « **Reply #4 on:** January 25, 2005, 12:10 PM »

yes me too! ; i wish i could just learn to go with the lead and not anticipate, especially in leroc.

i agree with you.. try and slow down and listen to the music.
i think it can help with many typical problems, especially if its not possible to take the (legitimate!) leader role, for example.

Elaine · « **Reply #5 on:** January 25, 2005, 12:35 PM »

Ok, some advice that I was given by some people I have already mentioned! It is a mix from David and Lily and Amir Giles.

Ladies, you should follow the gentleman's holding hand with your belly button! This obviously only works when it is in front of you - you cannot do it if the hand is raised for a spin!! When their hand is moved from left to right, or a continuous direction, you follow it with your belly button! Got it so far?

Weight of contact! There should be a light contact - if the man lets go of the Lady's hand, it should drop - (this lesson took me thirty minutes to grasp!). When the man moves away from you, you should have a light pull, when they move towards you, you should have a light push - I am still trying to remember to do this!

By having this sort of contact, you should be able to follow wherever your partner puts you!

In addition, you need to be able to be relaxed and not anticipate!

Easy, isn't it!

Elaine

PS - if David or Lily are lurking out there, perhaps you wouldn't mind adding to this?

Nick M · « **Reply #6 on:** January 25, 2005, 01:10 PM »

Quote from: Elaine on January 25, 2005, 12:35 PM

Ok, some advice that I was given by some people I have already mentioned! It is a mix from David and Lily and Amir Giles.

Ladies, you should follow the gentleman's holding hand with your belly button!

Also never allow your arm to go straight (if the man is pulling your hand, your body should follow before the arm straigntens) and never let your elbow move back past your body - you should have stepped back before this happens.

Quote from: Elaine on January 25, 2005, 12:35 PM

Weight of contact! There should be a light contact - if the man lets go of the Lady's hand, it should drop - (this lesson took me thirty minutes to grasp!)

One of Amir's lessons? Yes - it seemed very counter-intuitive to me too!

ClaireLSt · « **Reply #7 on:** January 25, 2005, 01:30 PM »

YEP. ME TOO. WHAT ABOUT 'THE FRAME'.

Lou · « **Reply #8 on:** January 25, 2005, 01:58 PM »

Quote from: Elaine on January 25, 2005, 12:35 PM

When their hand is moved from left to right, or a continuous direction, you follow it with your belly button! Got it so far?

Will try that tonight.

Quote

There should be a light contact - if the man lets go of the Lady's hand, it should drop - (this lesson took me thirty minutes to grasp!).

That's a toughie! My hand would automatically stay there, I think, as I've been trying to keep the hold light. Again - I shall work on its weight.

Cheers for the tips!

Andy · « **Reply #9 on:** January 29, 2005, 03:43 PM »

Quote from: Elaine on January 25, 2005, 12:35 PM

Ladies, you should follow the gentleman's holding hand with your belly button! This obviously only works when it is in front of you - you cannot do it if the hand is raised for a spin!! When their hand is moved from left to right, or a continuous direction, you follow it with your belly button! Got it so far?

Yes, I can see why they said that, Elaine, but you have to be a bit careful with how you interpret that - sticking your belly out in the process is probably not that elegant and will put you off balance

A better way of putting it (again gleaned from various national level teachers in various dance disciplines) is to follow from your heart (or your centre). The leader moves his (or her) centre or heart, transmits that fact to you via the dance frame (in whatever hold you happen to have at the time) and the follower moves her centre to match. As with your "belly button" it falls down slightly as an analogy when spinning or turning but nothing's perfect, I guess.

A lot of Le Roc leaders (including some who would probably consider themselves "good") don't move their centre but move their arms instead. This results in what looks (to me at least) like arm wrestling and their partners flying about the floor like mad. Some call that "a strong lead" though it's really a fault in their dancing.

Quote

Weight of contact! There should be a light contact - if the man lets go of the Lady's hand, it should drop - (this lesson took me thirty minutes to grasp!). When the man moves away from you, you should have a light pull, when they move towards you, you should have a light push - I am still trying to remember to do this!

Absolutely. The idea is to maintain contact and let the guy know you are still there and nothing more. (though I don't think you have any personal worries on that score, Elaine!!!). Anything more can put the leader off balance which restricts what he can do (or, worse, causes him to fall over!). Also if you are going to "bounce" or do anything else stylistically you should try not to transmit that back to the lead through your arms as far as possible.

Quote

By having this sort of contact, you should be able to follow wherever your partner puts you!
In addition, you need to be able to be relaxed and not anticipate!

Yes, indeedy

Andy

Elaine · « **Reply #10 on:** January 30, 2005, 09:46 AM »

Good to see you back on line Andy! Next time I see you, would you mind having a bash at the Cha cha cha with me - just had my third lesson and I am hooked!

Got as far as the basic, spot turns, turn outs, fan and hockey stick! Dave Holbrook, if you are reading this, now I understand what you were trying to do with me on Friday night!

Elaine

Andy · « **Reply #11 on:** February 01, 2005, 11:59 AM »

Quote from: Elaine on January 30, 2005, 09:46 AM

Good to see you back on line Andy! Next time I see you, would you mind having a bash at the Cha cha cha with me - just had my third lesson and I am hooked!

Got as far as the basic, spot turns, turn outs, fan and hockey stick! Dave Holbrook, if you are reading this, now I understand what you were trying to do with me on Friday night!

Elaine

Yes my damn computer died on me just after Xmas. Has caused a lot of hiatus with work as well as chatting here etc. And cost me some dosh I could ill afford. Hey ho

Anyhow, love to try some Cha Cha with you next time we meet. Where are you going to lessons? - Eric?

Andy

Elaine · « **Reply #12 on:** February 01, 2005, 12:46 PM »

Nope! Eric is over run with private lessons! We are going to Wayne Packard out at Yate.

Cha, cha, cha!

Anyway - you're on! The more practice the better!

Just watch your toes!

Elaine

Andy · « **Reply #13 on:** February 02, 2005, 09:02 AM »

Ah right - never been out there, what's it like?

As to the toes - remember it goes ...... two three ouch ouch ouch ......

Andy

Elaine · « **Reply #14 on:** February 02, 2005, 01:17 PM »

Quote from: Andy on February 02, 2005, 09:02 AM

Ah right - never been out there, what's it like?

As to the toes - remember it goes ...... two three ouch ouch ouch ......

Andy

Well, we think it's excellent and his name was given to us on recommendation by the talanted Jenny Harrison. She used to compete and Wayne taught her into her late teens.

He is quite strict, but that suits us, as we want to get the footwork absolutely right! Long way to go I think!

Elaine

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