If you take ballroom dance lessons, and you for some reason have to go to a dance with a nondancer?

Question

if that happens, do you follow the non dancer with generic dance moves, or do you assume your character as an advance dancer and try to teach the non dander. And if it's like one of those dances where nobody has dancing technique, they just move around, side to side.. do you still do your fancy moves, or forget about it, and fake as if you were a beginner?

Answer 1

It depends on the person. If the person seems to be able to try soem fancier steps, then go for it... if not, then go at their speed. It would be mean and humiliating to show off and "do your thing" if your partner can't keep up.

Answer 2

To reiterate something that Diana said:

In ballroom, I was taught that the single most important rule for the male lead is "Showcase the woman" (in other words, "make the woman look good"). Out of the two partners, the woman is generally the one doing the fancy, eye-catching moves, so the attention is on her. So that means that if the man is the better dancer, he should keep the skill level, speed of the dance, size of the step, and everything else at a notch that is comfortable and natural for the female partner. If he tries to push her too much, he is just going to make her look awkward. If she is a beginner and wore too tight a dress and the wrong shoes, then he should take tiny steps with her and just do the basic step. He should do whatever it takes to make the dance easy for her and make her look natural.

If the woman is the better dancer, there's probably not much she can do to make the man dance better. But the woman probably shouldn't backlead (try to pull the man through difficult steps). It looks terrible on the dance floor.

In freestyle dancing, I would say the same rule applies. Showcase your partner, i.e., don't show up the other person by overdoing the fancy moves.

Answer 3

The rule is, if you are male you always lead. If you are female, you always follow.

Another rule is, a gentleman who is a leader dances at a level that is comfortable for the lady. That means, if she is an absolute beginner, you stay with the basic step. Every dance has a basic step, which you will learn on the first day of your lessons. It may be boring to you, but ladies will appreciate it.

No matter how advanced you are, you should never yank, pull, or otherwise forcefully move the ladies. Leading is not about shoving. It is only a sign/signal you give to the ladies so they can move on their own.

You should NEVER try to teach on the dance floor unless the lady asks.

If the other person ABSOLUTELY does not know any ballroom dancing steps, then the only choice left is to do whatever they do. Still, you should not be dancing at levels higher than your partner. It's just impossible.

Answer 4

Are you asking this question pertaining to dancing with a non-dancer during a class function or in general? Are you a male or female?

If this happens during a class or class function it is permissible to help the partner with basic moves if you are a more experienced female and you can do so without making your male partner feel or look bad. If your partner is a female and you are so much better you should be a strong enough lead to make her look as if she knows what she is doing.

When at a function with mostly non-dancers you don't want to do anything to embarrass your partner, but if he/she feels comfortable with you showing off a few moves - go for it. Just remember, part of ballroom dance is knowing how to make your partner look good - not silly.