Of course there are physical differences between men and ladies leading, but the skills and technique remain the same.

Learning a new movement – have you been introduced to something new recently, then you cannot remember it, or, if you can and try it out on a follower who hasn’t done the same class, it goes completely wrong?

Or, have been learning something new, and wondering why your feet seem to have a mind of their own and take over? Your feet just do not do what you want them to do.  There appears to be an endless gulf between your brain and your feet!

Well, it’s not surprising really.  Your feet can only do what your brain tells them to do.  If your brain is confused, that confusion is being sent to your feet.

Learning something new is actually two jobs – your steps, and then how to lead them.  Firstly you have to ensure you have every element of the movement clearly in your brain.  Only then can you begin to learn how to lead it with your partner, who may not be expecting something new and different.

Escaping set patterns – how do you escape from set patterns and introduce more variety, but at the same time, letting your follower know that you’re about to do something different from the expected ‘normal’ next step.

We’ve probably all come across people who finish our sentences for us. This is the verbal equivalent of the follower anticipating your next step.  How do you elegantly say “actually, no – that’s not what I meant”

Imagine you’re telling a friend “I’m going to the shops to get the groceries”, which is kind of normal.  Now imagine you say “I’m going to the shops, however, I need to go to the bank first”.  So, the word ‘however’ is the signal, the pause, the breath intake, that something different is about to happen. In our dance we need to have an equivalent tactic of the ‘however’.

Pausing and the ‘However’.  We’ve talked a lot about slowing down and using more pauses in my other articles. Now pauses can take on a totally new and additional role.  They can be your ‘however’ moments.

The question is how can you have the tango equivalent of a ‘however’ to let your partner know that something new is about to happen?

The best way I can think of explaining it is like driving your car – you signal before you manoeuvre. So, in your dance you can give an Indication before the Invitation. This prepares both of you for what’s coming next.

This approach is not about having a large variety of movements, it’s rather more a question of using your current repertoire in a variety of different ways, so your tango becomes improvised rather than sequence based.

So how can you create exercises for yourself that will fine tune your ‘however’ abilities?  This is part of your leading technique that needs to be done elegantly and with clarity.   Like anything else you need learn and practise your ‘however’ skills.

Here are two easy elements to practise with:

. how to influence the speed of the collect in a side step
. how to lead a non-cross having walked outside

The follower is listening to your body and embrace to indicate to her your intention before the execution – the invitation – of your move.  Many leaders forget the indication and go straight to the invitation.  The follower then feels she’s being dragged into your next step, not able to complete what you have asked her to do.

It can be quite difficult to work out for yourself how to do the leads for every element.  But that’s what you have to do as a leader – you lead every element.

So, don’t be surprised if you experience being ‘brain dead’.  This is incredibly tiring, especially when learning something new.  You need time and practice to assimilate it all.

Choice Points – try not to feel that your repertoire is boring – be creative.  Take something as simple as a side step, this can become your choice point.  Where do you go from here?  Write them down, you’ll be surprised just how many options there are.  It’s like a spider’s web.

Here are just a few simple choice points from a side step to the Leader’s left
Forward Ocho
Back Ocho
Anti-clockwise Giro
Sacada
Step forward – either leg
Standing cross
Walk outside parallel
Walk cross basic
Travelling Back Ochos
and many more, and many more including after a side step to the Leader’s right

Classes have limited time available and often do not go into this level of detail.

Whether you’re a man or lady leading, Private Lessons are very helpful to perfect your leading skills.  More about the benefits of Private Lessons click – here

If you want our help either as an individual, couple or group contact me – here