LEARNING TO DANCE: MAINTAINING A
FRAME
In the traditional ballroom dances,
maintaining a frame
of right firmness is paramount.
The man will be unable to lead
and the woman unable to follow
unless a firm frame of the upper body
(including arms) is maintained.
If the woman's frame is too loose
the man will feel he is driving
a car with a steering wheel fashioned out of cooked pasta;
if too firm, he will feel he is in a contest
of strength and will, and he may try to overpower
the woman, thus ruining the dance.
The woman, on her part, despite the progress
of our uncertain age, must surrender to the man's lead
by remaining firm and following him as always
just before he leads.
LEARNING TO DANCE: STEPPING FORWARD
The man steps
straight forward
on his heel just as in walking.
He steps into the body of the woman
as into a doorway
as she steps straight back.
For the man, this is not
as easy as it sounds.
He, in his consideration
of the woman, may tend
to step obliquely
or, worse yet, slide
his foot forward along the floor
into the woman
stubbing her toes
thus causing the very effect
he wishes to avoid.
We cannot overstress
the importance of stepping straight forward
on the heel
just as in walking:
that first step into
the space made by the woman's body
leaving.
©A.Zolynas
