--- On Fri, 10/29/10, Jack Dylan <[email protected]> wrote:
"Sean, you may well be right but I'd like to hear more about your views."
Jack also wrote: "The man is the leader and must surely take responsibility for
the dance."
Sean replies: I normally don't attempt to lead the woman. I dance, and I trust
her to dance with me. Of course there are exceptions, such as if the woman is
very insensitive, contrary, or just passive. Ironically, many women tell me
that I am easier to follow than any of the other men, even some who are
arguably better dancers. And it works as well with beginners as it does with
very experienced dancers. Generally, I only have problems / frustration dancing
with intermediate women who believe they need to be lead.
I would like to propose the idea that there are more possibilities for two
people to dance together than just lead and follow. It's my opinion that a
lead-follow relationship is in fact the least satisfying of the possibilities
that I have experienced. I'm not a fan of Michael's interleading either; it
just sounds like double the trouble.
Traditionally, it is the man's responsibility to choreograph the dance. But as
far as I can tell, there is no need to lead the choreography. If I dance it, I
have found that women will dance it with me. I would say that that is her
responsibility, certainly not a passive role. (There must be other methods of
communicating choreography besides lead-follow?)
Jack: "Yes, the lady can make great contributions with what happens between the
steps and can, occasionally, if the man is sensitive, even influence the man's
next lead"
Sean: It's my opinion that it is the woman's responsibility to make great
contributions and influence the dance. There are limits to my charity and
generosity. I want synergy.
Last thought: If I dance, and she dances with me, then it follows (no pun
intended) that she dances, and I dance with her as well.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Credit Due: I wish I could remember which maestro first said "I dance, and she
dances with me.", but I was too inexperienced to appreciate it, and I lost the
origins in the jumble of 100s of workshop memories.
Many of these ideas grew from seeds planted by two different Daniels from
opposite ends of the tango sphere.
Those seeds were nurtured by women who dance, rather than those who merely
follow.
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