The Dance Journey Unveiled: Navigating the Stages of Progress at Lead and Follow

Embarking on a dance journey is akin to the excitement of a new relationship or trying something entirely fresh. It's a voyage filled with anticipation, joy, and a dash of awkwardness at times. At Lead and Follow, where inclusivity and freedom to choose your partner is celebrated, dancers experience a unique and enriching journey. Let's explore the stages of this dance adventure and see how they can guide you through the vibrant world of dance.

Part 1: The Initial Stage – The Spark of Excitement

This is the enchanting beginning, where everything is new and full of potential. It's like the thrill of a new connection or the discovery of a hidden gem. New students often experience this during their first 10-20 lessons as they venture into the world of dance, while advanced dancers might feel it when they dive into a different dance style or choreography.

Dance Progress Recommendation #1: Embrace this stage and let your excitement be your guide. Just like a spark ignites a fire, this is the energy that propels you forward on your dance journey.

Part 2: Finding Your Dance Feet

Much like the first time you stumbled while learning to walk, this stage can be challenging. You're learning to dance with your heart and soul rather than just following steps. Beginners often encounter this when transitioning between dance moves, while advanced dancers face it when exploring intricate techniques.

Dance Progress Recommendation #2: Keep your lessons close together during this phase. It's easy to doubt yourself, but trust in your progress and the support of your dance community at Lead and Follow.

Part 3: Trusting Your Instincts

This stage is comparable to learning a complex skill, like playing a musical instrument. Your brain and body might feel like they're in a tug-of-war. In reality, you're developing muscle memory and expanding your dance knowledge. New students feel this as they navigate the dance floor during practice sessions, while advanced dancers experience it when performing new routines.

Dance Progress Recommendation #3: Be open to compliments during this stage, even if they feel overwhelming. Others are celebrating your visible progress and the confidence you're gaining.

Part 4: The Natural Use Stage – Dancing with Freedom

Imagine dancing effortlessly, expressing yourself with grace and creativity. The Natural Use stage is when dancing becomes an extension of your soul. You dance with freedom and authenticity. New students reach this stage when they can effortlessly converse while dancing, while advanced dancers achieve it when they perform with confidence and creativity.

Dance Progress Recommendation #4: Reflect on your journey and appreciate every step you've taken. Every stage, no matter how small, contributes to your growth as a dancer at Lead and Follow.

Final Thought

Your dance journey at Lead and Follow is a unique and liberating experience. Think of it as an expedition into the world of inclusive dance. Each stage is a vital part of your progress, leading you toward becoming a confident, expressive, and free-spirited dancer.

So here's to your dance journey, to the progress you'll make, and to the vibrant community that is Lead and Follow. Happy dancing! 💃🕺

Your First Class Guide

Are you ready to dip your toes into the world of dance? At Lead and Follow, we're thrilled to welcome you to your first dance class experience. Whether you're bursting with excitement or feeling a tad nervous, we've got your back! Here's your essential guide for a fantastic first-time dance class with us:

1. Embrace the Freedom to Lead or Follow: One of the things that sets Lead and Follow apart is our commitment to inclusivity. Firstly we will ask those who have arrived with a partner to stand next to each other and then we will pair any solo dancers up. In case of odd numbers, our friendly teachers will jump in to make sure everyone has a dance partner. You will then have the opportunity to choose between being a leader or follower with your partner. We usually go through two dances in one class so if you’re struggling to choose, we recommend trying to lead one and follow the other dance.

2. Dress Comfortably for Movement: You'll want to wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Choose attire that allows you to move freely and feel at ease. Whether it's your favorite sneakers or dance shoes, comfort is key. So, leave your worries at the door and get ready to groove!

3. A Casual and Friendly Atmosphere: Expect a warm and welcoming environment at Lead and Follow. We're not here to judge; we're here to have fun and learn together. Our classes are known for their casual and friendly vibe, making it easy to connect with fellow dancers. You'll quickly find that our community is all about making new friends while dancing your heart out.

4. Double Check Confirmation Email: Once you have registered online for your first free class you should receive a confirmation email. Double check the location of the class in the email. On the odd occasion we do have to use alternative halls, so its best to confirm the location of your class beforehand!

5. Just Dive In - No Pressure: Still hesitating? We totally get it! But remember, your first class is on us! You can come by yourself or bring a friend, and it won't cost you a dime. So, there's no pressure to get everything perfect on day one. In fact, we encourage you to embrace the learning process, and yes, that includes making mistakes. It's all part of the dance adventure!

Now you've got the inside scoop on what to expect at your first Lead and Follow dance class. So, are you ready to take that first step onto the dance floor? We believe that the world of dance is incredible, and we can't wait to share it with you.

If you have any questions or need assistance, don't hesitate to reach out to Mat at 0426522254 or email learn@leadandfollow.dance. Remember, there's no better time than now to dive into the wonderful world of dance. We look forward to meeting you and dancing together!

Heels Class & Walkthroughs

If you haven’t heard yet, Lead and Follow is preparing a show group to perform at the Sydney Pride Dance Championships next year in March 2023. The show dance will be made up of dancers in heels supported by Latin dancers doing Samba. Sundays at 4pm we have Scott taking us through the heels section and later on Matt will add in Samba dancers.

We have recorded a walkthrough of the routine so far and a breakdown of the second section for you all to keep learning at home.

Full walkthrough of the heels routine so far.

2nd Section Breakdown

Schedule for 2022

Class Schedules

We are straight back into dancing and have our schedule ready to book in for 2022

Beginner Schedule
For those beginners wanting to have some fun and learn a few dances in a friendly, inclusive environment.

Every Sunday 5.45pm - 6.30pm

• September 4th till 25th - Salsa & Tango

• October 3rd till 23rd - Bachata & Foxtrot

• October 30th till November 20th - Merengue & Swing

• November 27th till December 18th - Cha Cha & American Rumba

Intermediate Schedule
For those who have danced for a few years and for those who are up for a challenge. We look into the finer details of each dance and introduce higher difficulty dances and figures.

Every Sunday 4.45pm -5.30pm

• September 4th till 25th - Waltz & Mambo

• October 3rd till 23rd - Tango & Bolero

• October 30th - All levels Practise Class

• November 6th till 27th - Viennese Waltz & Cha Cha

• December 4th till 18th - Foxtrot & Samba

Our group classes are run in Newtown Neighbourhood Centre every Sunday afternoon. For private lesson availability please contact learn@leadandfollow.dance or 0426522254

Latin Arm Styling 101

Arm styling is something we learn in the later stages of Latin dancing but can make or break a performance.

Starting off with the first layer of arm styling we have to familiarise ourselves with how to move and hold them in different positions.

When our arms are out to the side we want the wrists held slightly in front and below the shoulder line, imagine hugging a really really big tree - you’ll have a nice curved line. If your using a high arm line then make sure your wrists are still in front of the shoulder.

When moving the arms you’ll want the hands to travel in the most direct route. Think less about windmills and more about keeping the hand close to the body as it travels.

When doing a higher arm line, scoop the hand down and then up through the centre of the body. When doing an arm line to the side, bend from the elbow first then move the wrist out.

Hands can be neatly kept with the fingers together with thumb stretched away in an L shape or think of showing off your diamond rings to the crowd, giving your arm lines an elegant finish. 💎

Check out the video below for a clearer idea of how to move your arms so you can look as good as the pros!

Where should I look when dancing? 👀

First things first, definitely don’t look at your feet! When we are learning the steps it sometimes helps to keep an eye on your toes so to not step on anyone else’s, but it can become a habit which is hard to break later on.

As soon as you’re feeling comfortable with step patterns you’ll want to keep your eye level up. If you’re not looking at your partner, it’s good practise to focus on a spot on the wall a bit higher than your normal eye line. That way it will encourage good posture.

Dancers look the most confident when they have good posture and are looking in one clear direction at a time. When travelling across the floor you’ll want to focus in the direction you are going and then quickly change to the new direction you plan to travel to.

When looking at your partner it’s best to actually look into their eyes and make sure you’re on the same page, if that feels a little daunting you can focus just between the eyebrows to give the same appearance without being so intimidating.

Have a go and try pay attention to what you’re focusing on when you're dancing. Are you looking at your feet? Keeping an eye on your partner? Or distracted by that hottie walking in the room? 🔥

Let’s get connected

What makes a great frame and why do we need one? Imagine your frame is like the optical fibre lines connecting your house to the internet. A great frame helps the leader easily communicate direction and timing to the follow. If there are kinks in the frame the signals will be uncomfortable or delayed like slow dial up internet!

Firstly check your posture. Imagine blowing up your chest like a big balloon and standing up with a straight back. For Cha Cha and Samba, the leader’s left and follow’s right hand will be held around the eye level of the follow. The other hands will connect to the partner”s shoulder blade with the follow’s arm resting on top.

Some points to think of:

• The entire frame should be shaped like a wine glass - nice and rounded.

• Elbows always stay in front of your body and slightly below the shoulder.

• Your arms should have some tone in them to allow for easy communication with partner.

• Imagine gently pulling your hands together to create some tension.

Some fun ways to practise frame is when holding a shopping trolley. Imagine there’s a wire connecting your elbows to the centre of your torso, wherever your body goes so do your elbows. Check out the video below to become a master of frame!

Learn how to bounce like a Brazilian

Samba is the super fun party dance from Brazil showing off plenty of bounce and rhythmical body actions. Samba Bounce makes the dance instantly recognisable and important to become familiar with.

To get your body used to Samba Bounce, first stand with slightly flexed knees with your weight towards the balls of the feet. Now tilt your pelvis and hips forwards and back - imagine doing crunches standing up.

The next layer is to separate your feet about hips width and transfer your weight from side to side. This time imagine you’re drawing the shape of a rainbow when bouncing from side to side, rising up through the leg and foot before lowering on the opposite foot. Keep the pelvis tilting forwards when you lower and back when you rise up.

Now if that doesn’t make much sense to you, check out the video below, which i’m sure will help you out! Remember Samba is the carnival party dance so have some fun with it!

The secret to moving your hips.

“I can’t move my hips.” is one of the most common reasons why people avoid dancing. When starting out it can be very daunting to see top dancers do hip actions you couldn’t even dream of being able to do; but once you introduce yourself to Cuban Action you realise it’s far simpler!

Cuban Action is used in dances such as Cha Cha, Rumba and Merengue and works when you have one straight leg and one bent leg. Imagine you are waiting for your Uber or Bus and they are running late! As you get tired of standing you generally transfer you weight from one leg to the other. The leg that is straight will have most of your weight, while the bent leg will get a rest. Notice that your hip will roll to the side of the straight leg and be to one side, walah! You have just created Cuban Action.

Now all you need to do is practise this side to side action - check out the video below for some extra tips and tricks to achieve the perfect sassy hip movement!