I finally got around to updating this. A lot has happened in dance recently. Most of these ideas are said in such a way that they really apply to novice concepts, realize that at the upper levels you are way past all this. If you see anything you might be doing and this applies, then GREAT, your on the way to evaluating your dancing and become a fantastic dancer!! -Bruce (5/11/2008)
Yes, it's true; I'm a lead but I also follow and have made finals as a follow in dance competitions. These are just IDEAS and tips for follows. No holy grail and one persons opinon. However, many of these Ideas I've gotten at private lessons with dance professional, from their DVD's or from their lessons at dance conventions. (And tested on the dance floor!)
A busy arm is just noise. Don't wave your arms up and down or side to side. Some of this comes from not so perfect ECS training. Quiet is a good thing. Keep arms parallel (mostly) to the floor and don't get the squirrel effect (like when a squirrel gets up on it's back legs when it sees a peanut). Actually, upper body side to side movements should be limited anyway. You also don't need all the big prep like you do in Country 2 step, so don't induce it into the dance when it shouldn't exist.
This takes your dance to another level. Conversations are a key to a really fun connected dance. This applys to both follows AND leads. If you "yell" at each other and don't listen then half of the fun of the dance is missing. Try to "Add" to each others dance experience.
Please, don't come forward until your lead!! Especially if you've only done group lessons. If I stand there and you automatically start moving on 1, maybe the lead didn't initiate a lead! You're not following if that happens, your dancing your own dance. So it means, 1) lack of connection 2) Rushing the 1 and not having your own good timing. There are ways to come out on 1 (if lead!) even if the lead, leads too early (a novice lead issue).
Truely important. See Spagetti arms but its much more. You have to have a good frame to be able to be properly led or to listen to your lead and respond properly. In essence it's about your shoulder being connected to your body (and lots more), don't collapse your arm or turn to noodles, let your arms fly out to the side (or the opposite of this is arms of steel). Stand up straight but relaxed, don't grip, engage anb connect with your center instead.
That's like when the arms are like a wet noodle. No you don't want the arms stiff either (the other extreme). In essence (see frame/tone) you want your shoulder to feel connected and dropped down a bit, move with your center and down "pull back" on your lead with your arm either. Your elbows should be relaxed but firm. Your elbows free to move but not fly out. If you feel compression (via a lead who does something like stop his arm so that you feel compression) you are should not collapse but that stop of motion should be transmitted to your center either causing you to turn, or stop but not collapse.
Lets face it, people have style, they come in all shapes and sizes, and they like their own style of music. Not all situations match all dancer combinations at all moments. No matter how good you get you may not always get the perfect dance you want. Face it. And furthermore, sometimes dancers have conflicting styles or are having an off night. Or, maybe you just aren't happy with the lack of dance skill. Smile and Move on. Don't let it mess up your fun.
If you bounce you'll probably get a lead that eventually says" You're a East Coast Swing Dancer aren't you?" and he won't enjoy dancing with you as much unless that's his main dance too. Note that bouncing is different than intentional vertical movement. Keep the upper body quieter and don't wiggle either.Excessive body turning when not lead totally interfers with the conversation between you and the lead.
Rock steps are not the stable of West Coast Swing! Occasionally I run into follows that may have practiced lots of pattern based group lessons or East Coast but constantly skip anchor steps. The triple steps are the core of WCS. Don't leave home without them.
Spinning (turning) is really important and FUN! Yet is can be a major challenge. You need to spot your partner (or a place on the wall) when you spin and keep your feet under you at all times. Practice and time will help cure most dizzy problems. Some beginning girls I can only handle single spins (at best) and they go off balance. That's usually in part because your not spinning over your center. Yes, leads can push you off your center, but then relax even more. Keep your feet under you, stay in control, do triples or doubles under your center, and learn to come out of it under control and it neccessary, stop moving after a spin. Try to feel where the end would come and develop a strong comfortable exit.
You are in essence moving without being led and making your own dance. This is NOT the same as extending patterns (ok), improvising (ok), communicating back and forth with your center (ok), improving (ok). (see don't come out). Remember, the fundamental of west coast is it's a LEAD/FOLLOW dance. The lead initiates..then you have tons of fun!!! And at the highest level, it should be about communication and conversation,
Hard to explain in a short sentence but in essence your feet need to walk a line in the center but be slightly pointed out. Talk to an established follow and learn this RIGHT AWAY. It's really important!!!
Do not correct your lead on the dance floor unless you have an established relationship and you know each other well. Do not correct people you don't know, just smile and thank them for the dance. If they ASK you for advice then give it carefully, but otherwise, smile and look pretty :-) (same applies to leads except the pretty part)
You'll hear fantastic ideas from lots of sources. Sometime the same idea presented in a different way makes sense. Always be open to ways to improve your dance and thanks for stopping by. Reading this means you are interested in outside ideas and care about you dance! Wahoo!! You totally ROCK!!!
