I believe finding SENSUALITY in dancing is a very personal journey. The search for one’e individual expression leads along a bendy road, passing by stages of leaving behind inhibitions, dissolving feelings of embarrassment, and mastering standing walking and finally dancing on those damned heels. Soon, however, we will undoubtedly find a sense of sensuality that teaches us about ourselves and reveals wisdom about our strengths.

I will never forget how I bought my first pair of 7.5 cm HEELS at the age of 14, convinced that with them would come irresistible sex-appeal and sensuality. Outch! We often want to run before walking, learn impressive moves, rather than finessing the basics. But we miss a huge opportunity to actually experience how things change when we manipulate little details: heels or no heels, skirt or jeans, pony tail or open mane…the devil is in the details!

We all know the feeling of attending a class in which a beautiful individual moves her body in evermore mesmerizing ways… LADIES STYLING classes often rely on copying what works for the person who designed the workshop. What is often overlooked, however, is that very experienced ladies have the ability to move with a confidence and body-feeling that is by no means a given. In focusing on following skills, I want to encourage dancers to realise what feels good TO THEM and THEIR BODIES.

Obviously, there are RULES in Latin dance or dance in general that provide the space in which we create our own expression. Guidelines and techniques apply to Latin dance, may that be Salsa, Chacha or Bachata. Ideally, the rules operate as a subconscious background to a lovely dance with a beautiful leader.

We all have experienced that moment of great connection to a partner with our favourite song playing... We forget about steps and figures. We are simply present. Dancing is meditation. I think we can prepare ourselves to more often be present and fully enjoy a dance by feeling comfortable in our body and movement.

Often we leave the dance floor with a FEELING: that felt beautiful, connected, fluid, easy, like flying… If I asked you about a particular move that the leader lead, most probably we could at the maximum remember fragments. So, what followers remember is an experience shared with the leader, not the mechanics. A good dance has the capacity to elevate our mood and make us keen for the next dance. I think there is a huge virtue in becoming aware of this as a dancer and follower.

My dancing teacher said that one way of improving the basic is by meaning every little bit of it! Which I translated to becoming aware of the movement as it passes through all its stages. The more we are aware of what our body is doing when we are dancing solo, the more we can trust our body doing exactly that when we are busy keeping up with a lead. So, the first step is to find a comfortable feeling in my basic and the second step is to connect that movement to the music.

Every song brings a different mood and emotion to the movement. Sometimes, we’re led by the music to a romantic feeling, sometimes there is dynamism, sometimes we feel goofy and funny. The difference lies not in the steps, but in the expression of them. Dancing Sensual Bachata to a Dominican Song or edgy movements to a soft melody somehow doesn't feel right. What these examples show is that one way of preparing as a follower, is by preparing ourselves on the level of feeling and musicality.