Worst Private Lessons for Follows - Ballroom Dance

[@alexprine6030]

I had a guy give us extra time once, then after we paid him and left, he sent us a message that we had to pay more for the time he decided to go over🙄. Look bud, we don’t agree to that amount, you can’t go long on your dime then charge us for doing so. I think it’s always best to establish the terms before the lesson starts. Instructors should always establish if the dancers pay more if the lesson goes long.

[@jamesbenstine6020]

I love an active follower. I've stated this in other peoples classes and was looked at like I was insane. Lead and follow is a two way communication and is even traded of at times between partners. When I felt my partner react to something I was unaware of (usaually floor traffic) I would give up the part of my job that was direction so as to avoid collisions and such. I believe a dance partnership is truly an equal team effort and works best that way. :)

[@TheBallroomDanceChannel]

I agree 100% James! Follows are doing themself, and their partners, a great disservice by not learning to follow well. I do have some students (follows) who just don't want to put in the effort, and are happy to hang onto me in lessons and essentially forced/manipulated into doing their part. The reality (ESPECIALLY FOR COMPETITORS THIS DAY IN AGE! ) is that dancesport and beautiful social dancing is like racing in the Ididerod. The lead is the musher, and a fabulous follow is the lead husky -- responding actively to the musher's every signal. She isn't a deadweight sled, being pushed and tugged along by the musher! In my opinion - it's the leads job to navigate, and the follow's job to make her lead look his best, herself look her best, and let him feel like he's driving a responsive sports car! 😃

[@TheBallroomDanceChannel]

I should have included - THIS day in age NO championship level follow is passively following! In modern day dancesport, the follow MUST master their part, and VERY actively respond to every signal she gets from the lead. The follow' has the essential responsibilities to make their lead look and feel better! A LEAD CANNOT WIN A COMP ON THEIR OWN, dragging a follow around the floor.

[@emrose5758]

I barely get to dance with my instructor during lessons. It's always drilling the basics and he watches/critiques. Then we go through a routine and he picks something to work on and I have to do it myself until I get it right. We'll maybe dance together like 10% of the lesson. I like being able to dance solo though. Once upon a time, I used to rely solely on my instructor to lead me. I had fun at the time. No regrets. I didn't understand how movements work and how they're created until I worked with my current teacher. It was like culture shock at first and it stunk realizing that knowing steps is not enough if you want to be a good dancer. But it's like night and day now with the knowledge I've gained just dancing on my own to learn how to create my own movements. Now I find the partner connections a bit challenging on some steps.

[@TheBallroomDanceChannel]

I absolutely have some follows who (as singles) take privates with me. They just love being led to dance well, which they can get in a private lesson. I'm happy to "just lead them," but I always tell them they will look more beautiful, and feel better in their partner's arms, if they learn to do their part. The first step is to just learn the footwork/angles/rise and fall. After they master that, I dive into doing it in a way that makes them look even better, regardless of if they're dancing with me, or a lead who can't lead as well. The follow can always make themself look more beautiful, if their teacher can show them how to!