A conversation with a friend, posted with her permission and slightly edited for clarity and relevance and to remove people's names.
10:44Flower
... i will look [Sway] up on line and maybe give it a go.
i tried to lead last wed.
it was interesting
10:44Hedgehog
I'll have the review of Sway done in an hour or two with all the links
Leading is very illuminating
10:44Flower
i practiced the walk like [O] explained. it did seem to work
in that the follower moved her leg back.
10:45Hedgehog
Which explanation was that?
10:45Flower
but the timing is tricky and you have to be careful the follower is giving forward intention otherwise she drags you back with her before you actually want to go.
so i am going to watch I dont do that next time I dance. Do you know what I mean
10:46Flower
the other thing i noticed
is that as [O] says:
10:46Hedgehog
Yes I think I know what you mean
10:46Flower
I lead, but I accompany
10:46Hedgehog
i.e. you lead, she goes, then you go with her
Is that what you mean?
10:47Flower
yes, but it is so subtle almost happens in a breath. the connection is so so important.
10:47Hedgehog
Yes
10:47Flower
so these 2 things, which obviously i knew, but became very very clear after leading. so i am going to lead more.
do you lead
10:48Hedgehog
I took about ten beginner lessons as a leader
It helped me quite a bit
The biggest surprise was how few women grasp the concept of following
10:49Flower
yes - you are right!! about the women.
10:49Hedgehog
Leading a bit made me appreciate what I do right
It actually gave me a lot of confidence as a follower
10:49Flower
Yes, you are right
10:49Hedgehog
I know I've always been easy to lead but I never understood what that actually meant till I tried leading [different people]
I didn't realise how much influence the follower has on how easy or hard it is.
10:50Flower
and when i led this girl called [J], who has been to Mango, and has learnt along the same principles as me it was delightful. We both loved each other.
10:51Flower
I agree - people say the same - that I am easy to lead - I never believed them, just thought they were flirting or something - but [now] I know they meant it.
10:51Hedgehog
And also I understood why people want to lead - it feels rather magic when it works.
10:51Flower
Yes you are right - thats why i love [O] - he just walks me and doesnt try anything but its so interesting
10:52Hedgehog
It is, isn't it? And it so hard to explain exactly how
10:52Flower
yes - with [J] i did just once, a weight change and she floated along - we stopped immediately and laughed because it was so lovely it had been achieved.
10:53Hedgehog
And it seems so simple
10:53Flower
i have another lesson with [O] when he gets back - i cant wait. i emailed him to ask about music. what music should i listen to in order to place my step.
he said listen to disarli, dont worry about choreography. just place my foot on the beat. so thats my mission until he comes back.
10:54Hedgehog
Yes. I can lend you some CDs, I have more diSarli than I want
I found leading really helped with that as well
It changed my relationship to the music and made me more precise
10:55Flower
yes you are right about the music. i am just beginning to realise it.
must go now - may go to portland later
10:56Hedgehog
xx!
10:58Flower
also one other thing i just remembered.
about the forward intention with the upper body.
its actually in reverse for the follower.
now i know i know that, but somehow, leading has actually crystallised it in my mind.
10:59Hedgehog
It's tricky because it's not the way your'e going is that what you mean?
11:00Flower
because when i led [R] as he extended his leg - it was very clear that his upper body came back a bit too quick and we lost connection and he dragged me earlier than i wanted to go.
now again, i know that, and people have said in the past that i sometimes do it. but feeling it in someone else hopefully will help me to take it on board.
11:01Hedgehog
Yes, it makes a lot more sense
11:01Flower
oh its all so interesting. but i must go!
11:01Hedgehog
see you later!
“because when i led [R] as he extended his leg - it was very clear that his upper body came back a bit too quick and we lost connection and he dragged me earlier than i wanted to go.”
ReplyDeleteYup, categorically that’s what makes the difference to me as a leader. “Dragged” is definitely the right word.
Any chance of having [O]'s explanation on the walk and getting the follower to move her leg back?
@ghost, I don't know what it was either, but you know Flower, so you can ask her and she'll tell you.
ReplyDeleteI have a dearth of leaders this season and am using it as an opportunity to show my dancers both sides of the coin so that they get a greater appreciation of the followers role.
ReplyDeleteDoh! The choice of "Flower" is very clever, thanks :o)
ReplyDeleteWell, although that all sounds very interesting, I will stick to following.
ReplyDeleteI make decisions all the time and it it a relief for me to just relax and let someone take the lead for a change.
Now I finally understand what a friend of mine meant (he joined the TA SAS training many years ago) when he said he could just switch off and let someone else take charge. I didn't think he was the kind of person who would accept being told what to do!
By the way, sometimes when a leader loses that connection, it can be because they are moving forward and stopping too quickly and not really paying attention to the follower. Listening is a two way street.
@Ghost
If you want to get your follower to move her leg back, try having her shift her weight back and forth to the music before you take that first step forward (leading with your chest). This way she will be 'listening' to you and will be prepared to follow. It's no good moving forward if your follower isn't ready.
@LT
ReplyDeleteThanks. I'm also experimenting with starting walks on the "1" / beginning of a phrase, and seeing what effect this has.