Different types of Leaders or Flavors of Ice Cream
March 19, 2010
By Jana Jankovic
Whether in salsa class or at a salsa club I always find myself dancing with various types of dancers. At first, it wasn’t easy to adjust and adapt my own style of dancing to theirs. But as time went by I was able to recognize some patterns amongst the dancers and categorize them into different types. This made it easier for myself to identify them next time, and adjust to their approach.
Type A I like to call the Liberal Dancer. These dancers are very relaxed while dancing. Their movements are smooth and their hold very delicate. I find it very easy to dance with them. However, at times when guidance is required, I find they can lack the necessary grasp to lead their female partners into the intended turn or dip. Because of their soft movement and grip, it’s not always clear in which direction they want you to go, or which spin, dip, or step, they envision you doing next.
This slight firmness that Type A may lack, is something Type B has a great abundance of. What I like to refer to as the Power Gripper, is a dancer who’s very firm and sometimes a little too strong when it comes to their hold. Although they make if easy for the girl to know her next move, her hands can get a little sore after dancing with this type. Their control and guidance can be overpowering, and sometimes, it’s up to you to help them relax and enjoy the dance rather than have complete control over it.
The last type of dancer is my favorite! Their nice balance between Type A and B gives them and their partner a confident yet relaxed feel and movement. They really know how to enjoy the dance and guide their partner at the same time. Their light feet, natural hip and shoulder motion, and gentle yet certain hold of the lady’s hands, allows this partnership to flourish on the dance floor. This I refer to as the Natural Man.
