From the editor's desk
Beginning with the October issue NASSPDA E-newsletters we started releasing articles related to social and/or competitive ballroom dancing. For this month, we would like to share three articles related to partner dancing. We'd like to invite our community to contribute to the writing of articles too! If you have an idea to share, please contact Horace (hluong@nasspda.org)
Which is easier to learn - to lead or follow
By: Lee Fox
I don’t think there is one simple answer to that. Both parts have their share of responsibilities to the partnership, so I believe it all has to do with the individual.
Some people find it easier to learn the leader’s part. The leader has a lot to think about. They have to learn their own patterns, understand the follower’s part and ability, keep the timing and the rhythm going, communicate to the follower what is expected of them, watch for other dancers on the floor, and, in the cases of the progressive dances, maneuver the partnership around the floor while choosing the next move they are going to execute based on all of the above. The leader does not have to be the more dominate personality (I’ve seen and danced with my share of dominant followers) but should be more of a multi-tasker.
Some people find it easier to learn to follow. Following is more about reacting to the leader’s silent messages. They don’t have to “know” their patterns as the leaders do though I believe they become even better followers if they do (provided they remember to let the leader lead). They need to learn to go where the leaders go and understand the signals given through the leader’s hands and frame. Of course in the beginning they should learn the basic patterns, the basic rhythms and the basic characteristics of the individual dances. After that it’s about the reacting.
I usually tell people in the beginning to pick one and not to try to learn both parts yet. Get a little bit of experience under their belts (or in their shoes) first. Learn how to move with a partner before trying the other role, and I don’t mean next week unless you’re dancing 24/7.
I personally enjoy both roles and, with the right partners, switching roles in a dance is fun.
Social vs Competitive Dancing
By: Benjamin Soencksen
Originally published in NASSPDA October 2015 Newsletter
There always will be different points of view on issues in our community, as in every community, that can divide us or bring us together. One of these focuses around social versus competitive dancing, which can cause heated and passionate discussions.
It is generally believed that we need to foster social dancing, in order to grow interest in competitive dancing. However, many social dancers are dead set against competing, for various different reasons, which range from "believing that you got to be really good" to "competition, as a sport, takes the art out of dancing." It is my belief that one supports the other and therefore validates both.
Though it is true that your first steps with a partner will be most likely on the social dance floor and that there is a kind of shared enjoyment with other couples on the floor, which can get lost in a competitive frame work, it is the competitive dancer that becomes the best marketing tool within the non-dancing world.
In other words, just as the competitive circuit draws "new blood" from the social dance scene, the social dance circuit gets fed "newbies" that have been inspired at a competition or show presentation. This is why I believe that both, social and competitive dancers, should support each other in whichever way they can, helping to grow our community.
