Some musings on importance to know how to lead.
Having been dancing ceroc for some 2 years now, I’ve been tempted by another kind of dance. I still do ceroc, it still has that magic power to uplift my mood. It has also raise my self-esteem and broke the barriers I had about the concept of the fat cows’ dancing. When I dance, I tend to leave self-consciousness behind and totally dissolve in the dance itself. In the end of a day if I’d be bad in it, nobody would bother to dance me but I hardly ever get to sit through a freestyle, I must be doing something right. Someone said once I’m easy to dance with because I follow so well that even when my partner doesn’t know what he’s doing, I still would go on with my own stuff, as if intended, making him think he’s good in leading. I was amused at such explanation. It looks like to be popular as a dance partner, one doesn’t have to dance professionally, but just to make your partner feel like they are professional dancer. So being encouraged by such appreciation and when a couple of friends from the club invited me to the tango class, I felt confident enough to give it a try. And got totally hooked on it. Tango is so different from ceroc. That makes it even more alluring. It is also way too much difficult then ceroc or even then I thought it is. I’ve only done 6 lessons so far. And didn’t feel I have advanced anywhere at all. I do not remember how long it took me to feel confident with ceroc moves, but I remember I was scared to death to ask for a dance those with experience. I remember looking at them dancing and thinking I will never be able to do that. 2 years later and watching particular talented dancers I’m still thinking that I will never master this move or that. But knowing my limits, I also know that whatever I can do, I am good at. And perhaps, this is what matters, really. In tango I’m still in this clumsy stage, where I would rather watch then try. Our last couple of lessons were led by a guest star, famous in dancing circles professional dancer Leroy Tango Cat. This event gathered not just the beginners, but some from intermediate classes have come to watch the master. He started lesson with putting on some music and asking us to dance for him, so that he could assess the level he needed to teach. I don’t have a partner for my tango class, so I wasn’t expecting to dance this one through. Then someone from the intermediate class came over and invited me for a dance. It was so tempting to excuse myself for the reason being inexperienced, but he said it’s ok, do not worry, just relax. These 3 minutes were an eye opening. I now truly understand what a good lead means. I am totally converted into the belief that any man who can dance, can dance any woman, even if she is not a dancer herself. I’ve seen it, did it, and was totally thrilled by it. There are so many analogies, connections between the dance and real life. Lucky are those who managed to find a good partner. For if one knows how to lead to the opportunity to reveal the best of another and another knows how to follow to get where they wanted, both will always be able to attune themselves to each other so perfectly, the whole life can be lived through within the 3 minutes of total magic on a dance floor...
Having been dancing ceroc for some 2 years now, I’ve been tempted by another kind of dance. I still do ceroc, it still has that magic power to uplift my mood. It has also raise my self-esteem and broke the barriers I had about the concept of the fat cows’ dancing. When I dance, I tend to leave self-consciousness behind and totally dissolve in the dance itself. In the end of a day if I’d be bad in it, nobody would bother to dance me but I hardly ever get to sit through a freestyle, I must be doing something right. Someone said once I’m easy to dance with because I follow so well that even when my partner doesn’t know what he’s doing, I still would go on with my own stuff, as if intended, making him think he’s good in leading. I was amused at such explanation. It looks like to be popular as a dance partner, one doesn’t have to dance professionally, but just to make your partner feel like they are professional dancer. So being encouraged by such appreciation and when a couple of friends from the club invited me to the tango class, I felt confident enough to give it a try. And got totally hooked on it. Tango is so different from ceroc. That makes it even more alluring. It is also way too much difficult then ceroc or even then I thought it is. I’ve only done 6 lessons so far. And didn’t feel I have advanced anywhere at all. I do not remember how long it took me to feel confident with ceroc moves, but I remember I was scared to death to ask for a dance those with experience. I remember looking at them dancing and thinking I will never be able to do that. 2 years later and watching particular talented dancers I’m still thinking that I will never master this move or that. But knowing my limits, I also know that whatever I can do, I am good at. And perhaps, this is what matters, really. In tango I’m still in this clumsy stage, where I would rather watch then try. Our last couple of lessons were led by a guest star, famous in dancing circles professional dancer Leroy Tango Cat. This event gathered not just the beginners, but some from intermediate classes have come to watch the master. He started lesson with putting on some music and asking us to dance for him, so that he could assess the level he needed to teach. I don’t have a partner for my tango class, so I wasn’t expecting to dance this one through. Then someone from the intermediate class came over and invited me for a dance. It was so tempting to excuse myself for the reason being inexperienced, but he said it’s ok, do not worry, just relax. These 3 minutes were an eye opening. I now truly understand what a good lead means. I am totally converted into the belief that any man who can dance, can dance any woman, even if she is not a dancer herself. I’ve seen it, did it, and was totally thrilled by it. There are so many analogies, connections between the dance and real life. Lucky are those who managed to find a good partner. For if one knows how to lead to the opportunity to reveal the best of another and another knows how to follow to get where they wanted, both will always be able to attune themselves to each other so perfectly, the whole life can be lived through within the 3 minutes of total magic on a dance floor...