I will tell the story with as little words as possible.
I started dancing latin 5 years ago & ballroom 3.5 years ago. i quickly found out I picked up anything my teachers threw at me with an unatural ease. I didn't want to compete so I did not (all to the disgust of my teachers, 1 latin, 1 ballroom and 1 tequnique). I trained as hard as the comp dancers and for just as long and rarely stepped onto a social floor. thats neither here nor there. in late aug 2007 I had a break from all dancing for a year. (my daughter has a chronic illness) I took it back up late sept 2008. I've picked up my ball room better than before. But my latin.. OMG... I have lost my ability to be lead.... has any one seen it or does any one know how to get it back? it just fell out!!!! and now I can't find it any where!!! Please help me!
thank you

C

I cant anaylise something that is not seen,,

but.. your major mistake over all, was rejecting the social aspect,, this is HOW one develops the necessary skills . It will come back given time .

To follow exceptionally well, first relax & stop anticipating the next move. My partner will stop half way through a step if I do, because she dances a tenth of a second behind me - that is following! Also most guys can't follow, so if you go first even a little they will soon stuff up - Whose fault is it?
To train my students to follow I mix the steps up & innovate all the time, so if they anticipate they will get lost. Good luck, you can do it,
Wayne www.cutlersdance.com.au

cartasorans. Lost ability to lead.... Previously were you just following a set routine. For instance to suddenly decide to take the lady into an Open Hip Twist in the Rumba you would need to know exactly what the ladies steps are to be able to lead them into that move. If a person once had the ability to lead I don't see how they could loose it.
Although a person once said to me you can't leave anything laying around here without it getting knocked off

I think, Polished, you have misunderstood the poster. I believe, SHE, is complaining that she has lost her following capabilities, in other words, can not be lead.
I find this concept confusing. How can an experienced dancer not know how to follow. It is so ingrained in me now, I follow without thinking. She must have learned patterns in Latin and has now forgotten them. Never dancing socially would restrict her severely. I would like to ask Carla a question - why did you learn to dance, practice with, and as hard as the competitive dancers if you did not want to compete or dance socially? I learned to dance to do just that, dance, every time I get a chance. I'm not criticizing if it worked for you, I just can't imagine putting all that effort in, and not doing something with the knowledge.

If you are dancing with men who know how to lead and there is an understanding of how important all of the connections are -- and how they should feel -- being able to follow is something that should come back fairly quickly. The Latin dances, I have always thought, are a little less forgiving if you get off the timing. But a good lead should always know how to regroup, and the lady following should recognize that as well.
In short, it might be time to go back to the basics and just get a solid understanding of the connections and how they should feel. This web site's learning center has some decent material on that topic.

Maybe you are having trust issues with your partner. Sometimes if I am angry with my pro or feeling insecure about my own steps my body resists the lead.

It's subconscious and for me when it happens its always in the Latin.

Could it be that there is something like that which is impacting your ability to be lead? I don't think you lose the ability I think your mind puts up roadblocks.

It might even be something outside of your time with your dance partner. Perhaps you have had to take on the responsibility of control to such a high degree because of your child's illness and you are having trouble letting go of this control. That would not be unusual!