Hi. I just had my first ballroom dancing class at my college. Unfortunatly I missed the first class. Therefore, I didn't learn how to lead, and I'm having a really hard time so far catching up. Does anyone know of any good ways I can learn how to lead and some more basic steps? I would really appreciate any help. Thanks!

Gorilla

Oh my goodness, would not that just be great if you could learn the lead in follow in a couple of lessons.

Dont worry about it. Learning to lead is really an ongoing process, and missing a lesson should not have to much effect on you. I am sure the topic will covered time and time again.

Learning to lead takes years I think. I've been taking lessons for not quite a year, and I'd say it was 6 months of dancing 4 times a week before I was half way decent at leading. I'd recommend attending as many group classes and practice parties/social dance events as possible. Also, dance with as many different women as possible.

If you see a lady follow a move you know, and you can't seem to lead her thru it yourself, ask her how she knew to follow the other guy. I've picked up a few tips this way.

Just as far as practical advice goes, I was told, when I was just beginning, to lead with the upper body. Obviously, as you go along, there is a lot more to it than that, but that's a good place to start; maintain a firm dance frame, and then, if you turn, move forward, move backward, your partner will have to as well. After a little while, you'll get the hang of giving ladies a lead... probably by trial and error :-P. If you have trouble, ask your partner what she where she was expecting her cue from. But remember, this takes a lot of time.

"leading" is knowing your part well so that you dont have to think about leading. Basically, it just happens. If you maintain frame (Posture) and learn where the pattern is supposed to go the lady cant help but follow.

In ballroom dances (in addition to a good stable hold) one should not forget the interaction of technique and lead. E.g. going forward with the heel means "diving" under the partner a little bit, so the lady feels the impulse of man's supporting leg communicated by his whole body movement. Vice versa the man can LEAD the lady stepping forward with heel (or ball as required). In other situations it is sometimes important NOT to transfer man's movement 1:1 to the lady, e.g. at heel turns, lock steps, crosses and some promenade figures.
In latin dances there are of course other mechanism of leading, more often use of the hands or even "leading" by looking at each other or challenging figures.