Many thanks for the effort that you put into your web site. I particularly enjoy the weekly variation and I have picked up some great dance figures from it.

I thought that I'd provide you with some feedback. This week's Bolero figure by the Abayas is excellent. The problem that I have with it is that it requires that the lady know it in order to complete it (at the end of the Inside Underarm Turn to Shadow Position, the lady must hesitate with no step taken, ending on her left foot and resuming on her left foot). From a lead and follow perspective, this won't happen, at least not in my dance world :->)

So if inclined to appease this constituency of one (g), lead and follow
figures would be greatly appreciated - where if hesitation/fakes are necessary, let them be designed for the man so that he can dance with any partner who can merrily L-R-L-R away to her heart's delight :->)

Thanks again for the great web site and I hope that weekly variations continue.

Sincerely,
Peter

Peter,

Thanks for your feedback. Just so you know, we recently filmed 40 variations, 8 of which have already been shown, so any effect your advice has on future decisions will not be apparent until after the remaining 32 variations have been aired.

To address your concern, I'd first point out that just about anything is leadable; the question is how much skill is required to lead it (and to follow it). One can make the argument that the movement in question is too difficult for the "average" social dancer to lead or follow. It's hard to say... I will admit that we're definitely pushing the envelope. I guess it depends on the people you typically dance with.

But here is what I believe to be a better question: Considering the skill level of those who would attempt the move in the first place, is it too difficult to lead and follow? Considering the additional stipulation, I would say no. But again, that point is certainly up for debate.

My general rule is this: I try to make sure that the skill required to lead a movement is never greater than the skill required to execute it. If this were a pattern intended for beginners, I probably wouldn't have included a foot fake at all. Were it intended for intermediate dancers, I might have included a very simple foot fake for the man, but none for the lady. But as a more advanced pattern (as, you will find, most of the Bolero variations will be), I allowed the complete change of rhythm for both of them, with the man actually leading the lady's weight changes individually through the connected hands. It's definitely an advanced concept. But then again, it's an advanced pattern.

If anybody is interested, I'll be happy to discuss in greater detail the concepts behind leading the lady's weight changes. Let me know. In the meantime, I hope I have addressed your concerns in a way that satisfies you. Perhaps in the future we will release another set of variations aimed more at the beginning to intermnediate set.

Regards,
Jonathan Atkinson
www.ballroomdancers.com

I am interested in that discussion of leading the weight changes via the connected hands, altho I confess that my intention is to dance only with my one partner (my wife). I think your variations are superb.

Jerry Blumenthal