[TANGO-L] Teachers who lead and follow

[Lois Donnay <donnay@DONNAY.NET>]

Last night I was at a salsa venue and I saw a woman leading another woman in
salsa - she was really good! I was sitting next to another salsa teacher,
and he was watching closely. When the song was over, he ran over and asked
the woman to dance - but to lead him! I thought that was fantastic!

In the professional level of ballroom dance instruction, all teachers lead
and follow. There is no question that a professional teacher would not be
competent in both roles. I see this less in non-professional teachers, and
have rarely seen this in salsa until last night.

This brought me to a question - when you pick a teacher do you verify that
they can do both roles? Is it important to you?

I am also constantly surprised by women who whisper to me after a dance
"That was really good! Better than most of the men!" I think first of all
that they don't need to whisper - are men's egos really that delicate? And
also, shouldn't I, as a teacher, be expected to be one of the best leaders?

Oh, yes - in the myth-busting mode - last time I was in Buenos Aires I led
my male partner (an Argentine) at a regular milonga and was not immediately
thrown out into the street. As a matter of fact, the people who saw us loved
it!

Lois Donnay
Minneapolis, MN 55408
www.mndance.com 


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