Monday
“Correct me if I’m wrong, you can’t dance LA with a follower that did not complete beginner level classes, because it just doesn’t work. I tried running a few simple moves like break-back to back but usually the follow would not understand my lead and would end up trying to turn or something else.” Â -Sababa
Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE is going to run into this problem in a club. The way I see it, a good leader can dance with just about everyone, regardless of skill level, style or ore experience. When you break it down to the core elements, a leader is responsible for every single action the follower makes. This goes for L.A. Style, Cuban Style, New York Style and all other styles of Salsa. They leander is in control of the steps the lady takes and what the ultimate result looks like. For example, in the basic step, there is a slight push to make the lady steps back, a there is a slight pull to make the lady steps forward. This correlation will increased you understand of how a leader affects what a follower does.
Going to classes and learning the steps is one way to learn a move. A follower gets taught all the same signals as the leaders. That’s why so many women anticipate the move and react accordingly, often times without being lead at all. This results in the dreaded back lead—a lady’s attempt at taking control of the way she looks on the dance floor.  The subtitles of a lead often times overlooked or just plain not taught because both dancers are expected to “know the basics.”These are the fundamentals of partner dancing and allow a skilled leader to manipulate every aspect of the ladies bodies. Their feet, their arms, weight distribution, styling and even the number of turns a lady will do is a direct result of the  This is by no means an entry level concept buy none the less, it will be good for and entry level dancer to start to pick apart the “basics” and get an understanding of what it means to lead. Every movement is a signal to communicate something.
Now it is true, it takes some training to be able to follow a complex turn pattern. There is no way to push a novice dancer through a fast past pattern without an exceptionally clear lead. You can however use a the closed position and two hand leads to get your point across. You do not want to make a lady look like she doesn’t know what she is doing, regardless if she really doesn’t. It will only look poorly upon you and your abilities as a leader. If you don’t yet feel comfortable leading a lady through a move they don’t fully understand then it is best to dance on their skill level. **It is very important to take great care to making the lady look beautiful the entire time on the dance floor.
A simple example of increasing the control and communication through the lead is expressed in a simple lady’s right turn. Using both hands will convey a very clear lead. In a closed position, using your right hand to push the lady to their right with her shoulder, back or hand will make your intentions clear. You actually turn her body for her and there will be no possibility of confusing her with which way you want her to turn. Using their shoulders, hips, hands and ribcage all give you more control and make your intentions more clear.  You will never forget the look on a lady’s face if you make her feel that she was the most elegant dancer on the floor, especially if she knows nothing about L.A. style.
This will take time. You will first have to master your own movement before you can manipulate someone else’s. Open your mind and break each move down and look for the subtleties in every technique. Dancing L.A. Style is a lot like doing math. There is a million different ways to do a move. A million combinations and usually one one result, a move that is crisp, clean, stays on beat and lands in the slot.
~J
I love your article! I am Colombian and even thou I know the basics, 123=567= and that I am a good follower, understand timing and rithm I have no idea of Puerto Rican NY style salsa patterns… (What salseros dance around here) and its not natural for me to spin and do all the styling the ladies are supposed to do. Some few guys seen to be frustated with me @ the dnce floor and I feel unconfortable at times. I love to dance salsa, but lately going to the clubs in Houston, makes me feel that dancing salsa is not what I knew but instead a series of choreograph patterns I haven’t learned yet…
After reading your article I won’t feel as guilty and embarrazed on the dance floor. after all, modesty apart, I can follow pretty much any clear lead is given to me… Thank you!!