I can't speak authoritatively from the follower's perspective but I am convinced that partnership improves when both partners can dance their side solo. I am also convinced that improvement in partnership demands practice. Working either partnership or solo to the exclusion of the other does not work for me either.

Your comment on lead interests me. I dance regularly (socially) with as many as six partners in any given week. I find that I need to use a stronger lead with many partners and some novice partners can be so dependent that they are exhausting. That's life and gradually their improvement lessens the need for a forceful lead. It is much more difficult for me to maintain my technique and lead forcefully.

With my competitive partners dancing a routine my lead can be very light. It becomes more of a timing device than a direction. One of my partners is so sensitive that it seems as if simply thinking about the lead is enough.

When working on a difficult routine, as I am at present, I spend one lesson on choreography, another on technique one or two "lesson equivalents" practicing solo and an equal number in partnership. I know not everyone can spend this amount of floor time so I leave it to you to devise your own schedule.

So now you have another viewpoint. Good luck.