Followers’ Top 3 Dislikes on the Social Dance Floor

In the final of our top 3 likes and dislikes series, you’ll find out what followers have to say about their top 3 dislikes when social dancing. In our previous post, we revealed that followers rate connection, a smooth clear lead, and timing and musicality, in their top 3 things for a great social dance. So what leaves them counting the eights ‘til the end of the song (not literally!)? We had a couple of tied places this time around…

Tied in first place was ‘overleading’ and ‘dancing for others’. In contrast to the desirable smooth, clear lead, 41.7% of respondents were not impressed with leading that feels more like pushing or pulling.

 “Aggressive leading where I would be pushed rather than guided to the next move.”

“When I don’t get a move and the guy keeps pushing me to try and get it right.”

And what is this ‘dancing for others’ they speak of? 

“When a guy thinks he’s the shiz pumping out all his moves whilst looking around at every other girl on the dance floor except me.”

“The ego dancers – the guy that never looks at you, he even can be caught looking at his own reflection instead!”

“When he is only interested in dancing for himself and does not engage with the follower at their level.”

There was another tie, with 38.9% of respondents identifying ‘no spatial awareness’ and ‘connection’ as one of their top 3 dislikes.

“On a crowded dance floor, nobody cares about all the fancy pants moves you can do if you’re throwing your girl into other people. I shouldn’t feel like I need a crash helmet to dance with you.”

…not to mention that a crash helmet is not something that would easily fit into a shoe bag…but we digress…

Just because lack of floorcraft can ruin social dancing for more than just one couple, three basic tips that can help with preventing potential collisions (and that you can apply immediately!) are:

1. Look before you send your partner there (leader)
2. Look where you are being sent (follower)
3. Be prepared to pull yourself or your partner in to prevent a potential accident (both parties).

And if your partner feels protected on a crowded dance floor, they are more likely to trust and connect with you…well, unless they feel you’re trying to pick them up rather than dance with them; or that you haven’t taken the time to find out and dance at their level of comfort and experience.  

“Leaders who don’t read their partner (dance way too close when the follower is obviously uncomfortable, leading above the follower’s level).”

And finally, one third of respondents find leaders with no timing to be a social dancing turn off. Pretty self-explanatory, but just ‘cos we like to give our respondents a voice, our favourite quote in this category was:

“Timing – you must be able to keep it. Better to do basic moves well timed, than crazy stuff out of beat – Yuck!”

So there you have it – traits that will make a follower want to feign a cramp in their foot, are a leader who:

• aggressively leads
• uses their partner to show off their ‘dancing prowess’
• has no spatial awareness, also known as ‘floorcraft’
• does not connect with their partner and take time to discover and dance at their partner’s comfort and dance level
• has no timing.

In the end, most followers would much prefer fewer, simpler moves that are led better, to time and don’t require a crash helmet on the dance floor.

Quality over quantity friends – it works on the social dance floor too!

Thank you again to everyone who provided us with the feedback to make this series possible. We hope it has been as insightful for you readers, as it has been for us. See you on the social dance floor!

Photo: Ryan McGuire, modified by Momenta rhythms for life