In Dancing, Is the Partner Always the Only One at Fault?

Disco! Suddenly, after an upbeat track, they announce a slow dance. You're standing on the sidelines, catching glances from guys, thinking no one will ask you. Then in a moment, you see a young man reaching out his hand with the words, 'Care to dance?'

You're on the dance floor, the music soothing your ears, a strong shoulder next to you. You think, what could be more wonderful? But then, you feel a step on your foot once, twice, again... Your mood starts to sour: 'He dances so terribly!' I suggest we consider: is the partner always to blame? But as we all know, the follower also has responsibility in a partnered dance. Let's break it down.

Yes, the lead guides in dance, but is it always his fault? When mistakes happen, they're always pinned on him. But what if the partner is a dance teacher? Do you think he never makes mistakes? He does, but then the blame shifts away from the lead. You, dear followers, should take a look at yourselves.

You might think you don't need to improve in partnership, so you stop growing. So I recommend focusing on making your movements in sync with your partner, avoiding misunderstandings on your part. Show what you've got, ladies!

Of course, situations vary, and I don't want to completely absolve the leads. For example, in partner dances like salsa, bachata, or any other social dance, during lifts and complex moves, the lead takes on more responsibility than the follower. But don't hide behind the excuse that he's always at fault—that won't flatter you, followers.

Simply put, when both partners move together, any mishaps or mistakes should be resolved together, not by arguing who is worse off. Unfortunately, skills don't come overnight; everyone needs to practice and improve. But isn't that the beauty of it? Let's always dance with soul!