How to Spot A Good Leader (on the Dance Floor)

Have you ever gone out dancing and spotted one couple on the dance floor that just looked AMAZING? Chances are, you can thank the guy for that. Now, don't get me wrong... The lady is doing her fair share of hard work to look good, but she can't do it without the help of a strong leader. No matter how pretty the painting, you can't look at it if there isn't a solid frame holding it up, right? Right. A good leader can be hard to find, but he is definitely worth the hunt. Here are a few helpful hints from the professionals at Dance FX Studios for spotting a great lead so you can guarantee yourself a phenomenal dance.

The lady looks comfortable and the dance looks easy.

If someone looks like they're trying really hard, they probably are. Dancing on a social floor isn't necessarily easy, but it should generally look that way. Whether you're Salsa dancing at a Latin dance club or dancing the Country Two Step in a local Country bar, a good leader is consistent in his lead and knows how to guide a woman properly. When a leader knows what he's doing, his follower shouldn't have to struggle to get through the dance. If the woman looks lost and confused, her leader is in all likelihood giving her mixed signals.

Now, a lady could look confused on the dance floor because she doesn't know how to follow. This only brings up my next point that...

He dances to his partner's level, not above it.

If a good leader is dancing with a less-than-experienced follower, he isn't going to try tons of crazy moves. Since it's his job to make the lady look great, a good leader will determine the level of his follower and go from there. By simplifying his moves, he can keep the lady looking and feeling good instead of one-upping her. If you know a lady isn't necessarily the best follower, but she still looks like a competent dancer, her partner is doing something right.

A good leader also knows how to up his game with more advanced followers. He can pull out the tricks AND lead them with the right lady. But be aware... Just because someone knows cool moves, it doesn't mean he knows how to lead him. If the lady is struggling with the basics of Swing dancing and her leader is trying to drag her through flips and tricks, he isn't a considerate leader. Be wary.

Ladies ask him to dance.

The biggest telltale sign of a good leader? He doesn't have to ask women to dance... because they ask him. I don't mean a random girl happens to ask a random guy who happens to be standing next to her. I mean ladies beeline toward him the second they see he is free for a chance to dance with him. You think I'm kidding? I'm not.  If a guy is a good leader, ladies will compete to dance with him all the time. Watch for it, and stand in line to snag a dance.

He acknowledges his mistakes.

I'll be honest... This doesn't really mean a guy is a good leader. This just means he's a leader I want to dance with. Bad leaders will blame you for their poor lead and good leaders will blame themselves even if it's your fault. If a turn isn't executed perfectly or they end up off the music, a good leader will apologize and fix it. If that happens, he's probably been trained properly through private dance lessons to know how lead and follow works. (Hint hint, guys: if you get to be in charge, you get to claim the mess ups. Sorry not sorry.)

If you're looking to become the leader on the dance floor that everyone wants to dance with, or the follower that every good leader wants to dance with, check out Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ. As the only social partner dance studio in Arizona, we focus on teaching true lead and follow techniques so you can be the best dancer out there. Although you can get a lot more out of the one-on-one experience of private dance lessons, even our group dance classes focus on creating amazing leaders and followers. Just off the 101 and the 60, Dance FX Studios is easy to access from Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, and Phoenix. Join us to become the best Latin, Country, Swing, or Argentine Tango dancer on the dance floor in Arizona!

Dance Your Stress Away!

Day to day life stresses and challenges can leave us all feeling tense and unhappy. Stress, if left unchecked, can cause chemical imbalances in your body. This can lead to serious illness by weakening your immune system. The improved muscle and heart function and increased oxygen levels in your body that come with dancing can atone for these negative effects of stress. Irritability, poor memory, aches and pains, sickness, and sleeping and eating more than usual are just a few symptoms of stress that goes unchecked. Managing your stress is so important for your health every day of the year. Dance FX Studios, one of the best dance studios in Arizona, can help you combat stress! We have great deals on lessons, including our $40 Introductory Offer and private dance lesson packages. 

Dance, whether it is the Country Two Step, the saucy Argentine Tango, or the passionate Bachata, is an excellent form of stress relief for many reasons. It provides an enjoyable level of healthy stimulation that improves your overall well being physically and mentally. Physically, dance is a great form of exercise. It helps muscle coordination and reduces the tension in muscles and glands that our bodies hold onto when we get stressed.  Ballroom dancing also requires you to think about multiple parts of your body and how certain movements and parts of your body feel. This can help you become more in tune with your body physically and be appreciative and aware of what is going on with yourself. Stress can attack your body in various ways, so when you are in tune with yourself, you are better at knowing when you are stressed and what you need to do (or not do) to relax. You can release negative emotions in your lessons and the endorphins released when being physically and mentally active will recharge your mood.  You will be working off extra weight and getting yourself revved up to accomplish what you need to! 

Self-awareness, self-confidence, and self-expression are enhanced through dancing and are all beneficial. Mentally, dance spurs the growth of connections in your brain, since it requires you to constantly think about where your body is and where it needs to be. This improves the coordination of your muscles and how well your brain controls and keeps track of the rest of you. Keeping your stress in check is made easier by this self-awareness as well. Dance is also beneficial emotionally in a few ways. When you let yourself loosen up in a lesson at Dance FX Studios, dance can become a great outlet for the various things you may be feeling every day, both positive and negative. Focusing on your lesson, your partner if you bring one, and the music you are moving to can take your mind off of your responsibilities and stressors, giving you the clarity and energy necessary for tackling it all. The more aware of your body and feelings you become, the better equipped you are to know when stress is taking over.

With our current deals on lessons and classes, now is as great a time as ever to get started on those Big Band Swing lessons and Zumba Fitness classes! We can help you fight off the stresses of a busy life and maintain your positive attitude at Dance FX Studios. Talk to your instructor or call us today at (480) 968-6177!

Three Ways to Ensure a Second Dance With Her

You've been practicing for weeks. You've finally gotten enough confidence to ask a girl onto the floor. You've found the lucky lady, popped the question, and… She said yes! You've clearly already read Dance FX Studios' do's and dont's of the dance floor already, but how do you guarantee that second dance? Let's talk about it!

Why So Serious? Have A Little Fun!

Dancing is fun, right? If it isn't, you're doing it wrong. Talk to your lady! Make her laugh!
There's so much more to dancing than knowing how to swing a girl around the floor. Ladies love a great dancer, but (from experience) are more likely to dance with an okay dancer with a fun, exciting personality than a good dancer with no personality. Laugh off mistakes, play with your partner, and enjoy the dance!

Keep Your Hands to Yourself, R. Kelly.

Let's be honest: creepers exist. Please don't be one of them. There is such a thing as personal space and it should be respected. A dance can go from fun to "Oh, I see my friend over there who needs to cut in RIGHT NOW" really fast. Dance requires a follower to have a lot of trust in her leader. Your job is to keep her feeling safe and protected. This is especially true for the sensual dances out there such as bachata, Argentine tango, or what have you. They are intimate enough without wandering hands turning an innocent dance into a grope-fest.

Side note: If dancing with your significant other (and they don't mind PDA) grope away! Although it may get you some interesting looks from fellow dancers and observers...

Keep it Comfortable. Don't Show Off (Too Much).

Okay, show off a little. You want to impress your partner, because, why not? Just be careful not to go overboard with it! The dance should be comfortable, and a lot of followers feel lost when their leader breaks frame for a little free-style. This was supposed to be a partner dance, right? It's also never fun to be on the follower's side when the leader decides now is a great time to throw in an over-the-shoulder lift. If you flip me, we will never dance again. End of story. Keep it fun, keep it comfy!

Want more ideas to keep her coming back for more? Visit us here in Mesa, Arizona at Dance FX Studios, just minutes away from Scottsdale, Phoenix, Tempe, Chandler, and Queen Creek, AZ! Learn some killer moves in private dance lessons, or try out one of our group dance classes. Want to tear it up with country two-step? We've got you covered. Need some waltz or foxtrot in your life? We understand. Call us at 480.968.6177 or stop in today. See you soon!