Well, Scotty Boy & I have to cheat a little! Until he gets the lead - We have only been dancing for just over 3 years, so maybe it will get better for him, and he will be able to learn a new step, with both feet & arms at the same time! I know it takes me about 3 or 4 times then I can tell what he is expecting of me!

Hi! I was reading through the blogs, saw hand signals, and thought "interesting topic"! I'd be interested in responding...
1) 93% of our communication is nonverbal! Pretty important to know when ballroom dancing!
2) Balance is crucial in executing anything within ballroom dancing, therefore proper footwork, good posture (mental & physical), timing, and most importantly knowledge are vital in this achievement!
3) Hand signals can invite, reject, and obviously be offensive at times, but defintely are used to communicate messages! So what messages do you want to and NOT want to communicate?
4) An extended hand with the palm up and elbow close to the body communicate two things...
a) an invitation for your partner to put their hand in yours and...
b) for them not to put their hand on your shoulder, however, with more space between the elbow and the body with an open arm is definitely inviting to the partner to come closer in proximity and feel welcome to do so!
5) When it comes to turns, one of the best things to remember is that the hand raised towards the right or left hand side of the partners head is in fact a "signal" like a blinker (turn signal) on a car! It only indicates the direction of the turn and that it's coming soon! The raised hand, however is not the "steering wheel"! All dancers are responsible for (male & female) their own balance and movement, and need some time to gain fluency in this new language of dance!
Thank you for allowing my input!
I can be contacted at Allstar Ballroom Dance Company 918-814-6445 or at www.allstarballroomdance.com
or allstardance@cox.net