Lead with the Body

Posted on by Freddy & Andressa

In Brazilian Zouk, the leader’s body plays a great role in leading.

A lead that is done mostly with the body, as opposed to arms, is almost always far more comfortable and clear. Using the body to lead can also help the leader to dance himself, instead of just moving the follower around.

I do not lead with my arm.

He who leads with his arm has forgotten the face of his father.

I lead with my body.

– Part of the Leader’s Catechism, from Stephen King’s imaginary dance novel.

The body leads in at least three different ways: visually, through body contact, and as the source of a lead done with hand contact. Often, all of these play a role in leading the same movement.

Visual leading means the leader uses his own movement to indicate what the follower should do. This type of leading consists of intuitive

Continue reading Lead with the Body

What is the worst thing a Follower can do while dancing with you in a Social Dance Party or Lesson?

Posted on by Freddy & Andressa
It’s common to hear some Leaders complaining about certain Followers in Social Dance!

It has many reasons, and it varies a lot, also the situations change according to each community.
Many times, the Leaders don’t know how to act when they find themselves in situations which the follower is somehow compromising the dance, weather it’s because the follower isn’t really connecting to him, isn’t trying to feel the leading (when the leading is being precisely made, of course) or is anticipating the moves, predicting what the leader wants and ends up taking a wrong decision. Nobody want to sound rude or superior and sometimes, even a gentle feedback can be misunderstood, although sometimes it may be necessary, in order to keep the dance safe! Leaders can also get hurt!

Have you ever had any of these thoughts crossing your mind?

– My goodness! She’s basically doing everything by herself!

– She’s been over styling the whole dance, I can’t build a sequence of movements cos I have to improvise the unexpected everytime!

– I would love to dance with that girl but she seems to be only interested in dancing with the teachers or pros.

– Why does she put head movements in every single turn? I’m afraid of trying some moves and accidentally hurt her.

– I’d love to explore move closed embraced movements but if at least a deodorant had been…

– It would be nice if she held her own body, I’m making a lot of effort to move her.

– Why does she try to correct me all the time during the class? she is as new as I am and we have the teacher to correct us!

Well, here comes your chance to speak up and 

Continue reading What is the worst thing a Follower can do while dancing with you in a Social Dance Party or Lesson?

What is the worst thing a Leader can do while dancing with you in a Social Dance Party or Lesson?

Posted on by Freddy & Andressa

#Question 2

The number os complains, among women as followers in Social Dance about certain Leaders, are a lot!

Most of the times, they don’t know how exactly would be a nice way to advise the Leaders about certain behaviors that are not really appreciated by the followers, without sounding rude or impolite, and also, in certain dance scenes where there is a lack of Leaders, the girls just simply don’t wanna take the risk of upsetting any of them, and as a result of being misunderstood, be avoided by them after that!

Have you ever had any of these thoughts crossing your mind?

– This is terrible but better not saying anything, I don’t wanna be the only annoying girl that complains, since all the others just smile when dancing with him!

– Am I the only person that can’t really understand him or everybody else is just fixing all his misleadings like I’m doing right now in order to be nice?

– Someday, someone should really tell him how uncomfortable he’s been doing those moves on us!

– I really do not enjoy dancing with this guy just because he dances for anybody else, but me! It’s kinda I’m being used by him so he can show off!

– Why he cannot have one single dance without trying to be chat me up or trying to kiss me?  

– It would be nice if I was invited for a dance, instead of being grabbed by the arm and dragged to the dance floor!

– It’s ok and expected to sweat but he could at least bring a spare shirt to change it sometimes before inviting us for a dance, it’s all wet!

– Why does he try to correct me all the time during the class? He is as new as I am and we have the teacher to correct us!!!

Well, here comes your chance to speak up and

Continue reading What is the worst thing a Leader can do while dancing with you in a Social Dance Party or Lesson?

What Does Define An Advanced Social Dancer?

Posted on by Freddy & Andressa

#Question 1

There many explanations defining what an advanced social dancer is.
Some of them make sense, some others totally not!

– Is it the number of figures known?
– Is it how fast the movements can be executed?
– Is it how she can follow?
– Is it how he can lead?
– Is his/her musicality?
– Is it considered advanced One that has 1 year of experience in social dance parties?
– Is it considered advanced One that has taken 6 months or 1 year of regular classes?
– Is an experienced dancer the same as an advanced dancer?

In order to open a discussion and raise awareness about this subject, so all social dance communities can see what are

Continue reading What Does Define An Advanced Social Dancer?