(aka: Things We All Do… and Can Laugh About Together)
Last night’s class was a cracker — lots of smiles, plenty of “aha!” moments, and a few gentle reminders that are well worth sharing. So here they are, served with kindness, encouragement, and a pinch of humour.
Followers: let’s talk about jockey position
One little habit that sneaks in is hanging back or slowly drifting backwards when you’re in jockey position. It can feel subtle, but here’s what happens:
If you drift back, the leader’s right arm (behind your back) starts working overtime — and not in a good way. When you stay comfortably present (not leaning, not escaping), everything suddenly feels lighter, clearer, and easier for both of you.
Confidence: a tiny mindset shift that changes everything
Instead of asking:
- “Am I doing this right?”
- “Am I good enough?”
- “Is this wrong?”
Try asking: “How can I make this easier for my leader?”
Why? Because confidence isn’t about self-inspection — it’s about responsiveness.
When you hesitate, hover, or second-guess, your body literally becomes harder to lead. When you’re present and available, the lead has something to work with.
Eyes up, shoulders open (and yes… stop staring at the floor….)
Looking at the floor is very tempting — we all do it. But it affects more than you think:
- Your balance suffers
- Your shoulders close and hunch forward
- You feel less stable and less connected
When you look at your partner:
- Your shoulders naturally open
- You feel more balanced
- You look more confident (even if you don’t feel it yet!)
Connection improves instantly. Magic? No. Just physics and humans.
Leaders: you’re not failing — you’re learning
Some leaders shared that they felt they “weren’t leading well” because they didn’t always get a response from their follower.
So I asked a very important question:
“And when did you qualify as a Lindy Hop assessor?” 😉
Think about this:
Andy and I can dance easily with all of you, our class members because we have years of experience adapting. That skill doesn’t arrive overnight. It grows slowly, through dancing with many people, many times, with curiosity and patience.
Right now:
- Don’t expect your partner to fully adapt to you
- Don’t expect yourself to fully adapt to them
That comes later. And it will come.
The one thing that helps everyone — immediately
Connection.
And the simplest form of connection is… looking at each other.
When you connect:
- You respond better
- You adapt more easily
- You relax
- You enjoy yourself more
And remember — you are dancing with good friends, in a supportive room, where everyone is learning and cheering each other on.
Final reminder
You are:
- Dancers
- Students
- Humans learning something new
You are not:
- Examiners
- Judges
- Qualified Lindy Hop assessors
So please… stop marking your own homework.
Start dancing. Start smiling. Trust the process.
And most of all — enjoy yourselves.
See you on the dance floor 💃🕺