Dance Frame 

by Michael Schedler

 Making a Pretty Picture

on the Floor

On the dance floor, the couples that catch my eye are the ones with a good dance frame.  Regardless of the dance or the intricacy of the patterns, a good dance frame enhances the overall look of a couple on the dance floor.  How does a couple get this look?  There are several parts to achieving a perfect dance frame, and it normally takes a lot of practice, but here is an easy trick to get started. With a slight variation, this works for the man or the woman. Start by holding your arms about 4 inches in front of the body at mid chest height and bending your elbows so that your finger tips are touching, palms facing the body. The elbows are lifted away from the body, just below shoulder level, so that they are parallel to the floor, not drooping like chicken wings. 

The Man will turn his left palm towards the floor, then lift the hand up so the arm forms a 90 degree angle. The right hand moves slightly away from the body, creating an opening which will allow space for the lady to fit into. The Lady will turn both palms toward the floor, lifting the right hand up to form a 90 degree angle. Slide the left arm outward so that it will rest on the man's arm, just below the shoulder seam of his shirt (or jacket).

To complete the position, adjust so that the lady is within the man's right arm, and his right palm rests on the back of the lady's left shoulder blade. The arms that are raised upward will lightly clasp together, the man always adjusts to the lady's level, so he may need to lower his arms a little.

When the man achieves his dance frame, he must put "a little starch" in his arms - they cannot be floppy or loose. The Lady must keep her right palm in the Man's left hand without hanging on or pulling down, and her left arm will be lightly on the Man's right arm without using him as a leaning board or arm rest. It is very important for the Lady to remember, this is an ARM, not an ARMREST.

A good dance frame, not only looks elegant, but it makes dancing easier for the couple. It allows the Man to give good signals to the Lady, and it allows her to feel and follow these signals without a lot of effort.  A good dance frame makes dancing more enjoyable for both partners - which is the whole idea behind dancing - having a good time out on the dance floor.

Leading and Following

Now that we are in proper dance position, right sides aligned to the middle of the partner and looking to our left over our partner's right shoulder, what do we do now?  We use this frame to achieve an effortless "lead and follow."  The gentleman creates the dance space (or frame) and controls the amount of movement and the direction. The lady stays within the space and responds to the gentleman's leads that tell her how much to move and where to move.

The dance space within the partnership remains constant, but it is not stiff or rigid. Each partner maintains body "tone" so that they are in control of their space and movement. It is like sitting up straight in a chair - you use enough muscle tone to maintain an upright position, but not so stiff that you can't move. Each partner stays within their space, without invading their partner's space, or pulling out of the frame.

The gentleman uses this frame to lead the dance. A good leader does not push or pull his partner around the floor, and he never forces her to move. A good leader invites his partner to move in the direction he wants to go. A good follower accepts the invitation, and the result is elegant movement that appears effortless.

How does the gentleman issue this invitation, without pushing or pulling his partner?  He does not lead with his arms - he moves his body and maintains the frame with his arms. In this way, he is moving his entire body as one unit. The lady will feel this movement (because she is also maintaining her frame), and will be able to follow. Her frame allows her to feel the lead and move her entire body as one unit.

The gentleman's primary job is to make his lady look good on the dance floor, and knowing how to lead with a good dance frame makes that job easier.