How do you help beginners feel comfortable in close embrace?

Here are some suggestions for helping beginners feel comfortable in close embrace.

1. Help students develop good posture. Close embrace is much more comfortable when students have good posture. Make sure students are not pulling shoulders back or bending over too much. Ballroom dancers may also thrust their hips forward. Remind dancers to pull their hips back about an inch or so.

2. Start off with a hug. Have students begin by greeting students with a hug and then moving into balboa position. This helps students relax and gives them an idea of the appropriate pressure needed in close connection.

3. Explain the importance of close connection. Students are more likely to buy into the connection, if they understand its importance in communicating movement. Make sure to explain how it should feel for the follower when teaching pure balboa moves.

4. Use humor. Help your students feel comfortable in class by making personal connections and using humor. Students need to feel safe and comfortable in your class before they can feel comfortable in close embrace.

5. Encourage students to use more of a V-connection if they are uncomfortable.  This gives students a little more space, while still allowing them to use the connection on the closed side. A larger V may also be beneficial for new students.

6. Make sure the connection is comfortable. Check to make sure leaders are not squeezing their partner or making them uncomfortable. Give students choices and the agency to explore a closed connection that is comfortable for their height and body shape.

7. Rotate students more often at the beginning of class. Sometimes I find that rotating students more at the beginning of class can help them feel more comfortable. This means that they don’t have spend too long with any one partner or anyone that might have a more awkward connection. It is also helpful to normalize those who are taking your class in non-traditional gender roles.

8. Make sure students know footwork before connecting with their partner. If students do not know footwork, they will try to look at their feet and open their connection.

9. Do not explain new information while students are standing in closed position. I like to have students take three steps forward before giving information. This gets students attention and means that I don’t have to yell. Giving directions to students while students are in this position is awkward for students who are new to this connection and means that one person (often the follower) is not able to see.

10. Try using a beach ball. Megan Hallstrom and Connor Cole have had success in using beach balls with their students. Students hold the ball between their bodies while practicing their basic footwork. This helps students gain confidence in their new footwork without the distraction of the new connection. The beach ball allows students to feel their partners directional changes while not actually touching the other person.

11. Consider teaching promenade first.  Have students start in side by side connection and practice walking and moving around the floor first. Then, teach students to close up into pure balboa connection (like closing a book). This can help students ease into the close embrace position that may be new for them.