This is kind of a bare bones overview on important lead concepts. There's much more at higher levels of dance but I consider these foundation ideas.
This is the abatross of beginning leads and really hard to master. Here's a few tips to help you with this one, but it's actually even more than this.
1. Just the step back doesn't mean you aren't arm leading. Lead with weight (center) shifts whenever possible. Lead from lower going back and slighter higher center going forward.
2. Push off from the floor with your 3 toe base as you step back but maintain your level
3. Don't lean as you move, stay upright, keep good posture. Stay balanced
4. Learn Contra Body when you get more advanced. (not all leads are contra body)
5. Turning can actually be a lead
6. Some middle parts of patterns are arm lead but the assume the follower is not changing direction unless you indicate it. If she don't follow this concept, she may get confused and disoriented.
This is a catch 22. You need patterns for variety but pattern focus distracts on being a good communicator and can kill musicality. The bottom line, patterns are great but you need solid lead basics to be a good dancer and you need to listen to your follow to create the best moves and listen how she responds to your leads, it will add to creativity ultimately and make a more fun dance. Try variations off the basic patterns, that's a GREAT way to develop.
This is really really important. You'll never be able to be a good "Level Dancer" if you don't listen to how your follow is responding to your lead. It's all about communications, and it's not a one way chat. And top level follows won't enjoy dances with you if you don't give them room to breathe. Ask me, I know, I've been there and it's tough not to be too busy sometimes when the music is hot hot hot and she wants to play but your too busy "hard leading" patterns, and maybe not so well. You'll have to adapt to your follows style as well.
Timing is everything. Focus on the "And A One" and don't start leading on 6 (or whatever). This is a very very common beginning problem. In fact, I didn't figure this out for a while at first because at lessons you dance with beginning follows that often come out early by default. Guess what, then your both broken. Managing beginning follows will be a real challenge when your skills are just developing. Use a delayed lead (occasionally) later on in your dancing development.
Stretch is important. This comes from the don't lead early, so restated a little bit it that, you stretch away, maintaining a matched connection before you really engage the lead. It's kind of like a slow acceleration. If they follow doesn't stretch, then you've lost this precious holy grail of WCS. Practice on your refrigerator, you can apply a lead, but the door doesn't open until you reach enough pressure. Not a perfect follow but you'll get the idea. If the door POPS open right away, you're not stretching, you're jerking.
Feetwork is the bane of existance. This needs to look good in order for you to look good. Rolling through the feet is really important, in other words, work on the rolling count. Remember "And A"! The typical counts are Step Step Triple Step Tripe Step - OR - Step Step Triple Step Step STep Triple Step (at higher levels this can be adjusted). Practice rolling your feet to 1 and a 2 and a 3, etc, without music, then add music.
