For me, leading is about being able to connect with
your partner.
A good lead is someone whose ability to connect is multi-faceted.
Examples of these different levels of partner connection go from the basic physical
indication of a move, to the sharing of energy, even of emotion. Being receptive to your partner multiplies the possibilities of the connection
further, giving the lead more creative options based on the partner’s
interpretation of any indication provided.
Great leads can be as varied as
those who make you feel the music through their hearing and interpretation of
it, those who make you dance beyond your perceived ability, those who take all
your energy but leave only joy, those who give you so much energy that you feel
like you’ve had an adrenaline injection, those who are so smooth you think you
might be in heaven, those who make you forget where/who you are, those who
wordlessly make you work through your problems, those who manage to simply make
you laugh, smile and generally be grateful for discovering partner dancing….
I could go on, but I think you get the point. A
good lead will find a way to connect with you and make you feel something
overwhelmingly positive. Luckily for us followers, there are many different
ways to make us dance-happy (which might go some way to explaining why we’re
all so addicted!)!
