One of the easiest ways to annoy a leader is to hang on him. When in closed position (partners together), followers should rest their arms on the leaders shoulder and in the leaders hand very lightly. We want to give the impression of being united, but we should remain in the same position if the leader steps away (if you fall over or stumble, then it means you are resting too much). Not only does this help with not annoying the lead, but it also makes it much easier for the lead to take you through the moves because you are ready to go. Once your arms are in a nice, resting position, you can focus on your left hand that rests on his shoulder. How should it look? This depends on your preferred style, but there are lots of options rather than letting it just sit there.

Knees Flexed

A common complaint of beginning dancers is feeling too rigid or stiff. Most of this comes with practicing different types of body movements and isolation, but there is a simple trick that can make you look more fluid right away. Simply keeping your knees flexed and staying on the balls of your feet can completely change how you move by making your steps look smooth and allowing more room for hip movement. On the contrary, if you stay flat-footed you may lose your balance from depending on the heel, move more slowly (one vs. two points of contact with the floor), and look "tired" or "robotic. If your knees are locked, you may also lose your balance since you have no shock absorber and you will be slower to initiate movement, which may feel "heavy" to the leader. Again, this is about always being in "ready position" to be able to follow more easily. Aside from the benefits to your dancing, keeping your knees flexed and staying on the balls of your feet also just makes you look better (the hip action helps).

My last Article will be on smiling when dancing but it will be tomorrow, see you tonight at Royal Lamerta