Chrissy wrote: > Hah! I think I understand why I see no leader/follower dynamic in > contradancing. >
It may be that you are defining leads and follows in terms of partner dancing...rather than community dancing. Chrissy also wrote: > I like helping make sure everyone ends up in the right place (as a lady or > a gent or a same role neighbor) and of course I greatly appreciate that > help when I'm spacing out, or don't get the dance, or am distracted by the > music. > ...and: > I like the feeling of teamwork and accomplishment that comes from > contradancing, including that dynamic of teamwork with my partner, > regardless of what role I'm dancing and regardless of who's more > experienced. > That's what I mean by a "lead" in contras. It is primarily between those who know what happens next...and those who don't. The rule is to avoid eye contact with anyone with whom you are NOT dancing. Ignoring "lost" dancers may seem cruel, at first, but it is the best "lead" you can give someone with whom you are not supposed to be dancing. The "cruel" thing to do is to shout instructions to lost dancers you are not involved with. It attracts their attention in precisely the WRONG direction. - Greg McKenzie
