Dancing with a Partner is a Language

Was at a class in Ft. Lauderdale and the instructor, Billy Fajardo told the men not to force the women through the patterns. He said, "You are learning a language. Everyone in this class is learning a particular language that means to do certain patterns. If the woman does not know the language, trying to force her through the steps does not work. It is not possible to push her through the moves in time to the music. If you are dancing with someone from somewhere else that does not know the same language, these same moves, you will not be able to do them."

I loved this. He is right.

This is exactly what Partnership Dancing is about. Partnership Dancing takes the language to a level more basic than the patterns. Partnership Dancing takes the language down to the fundamental movements.

After all, all patterns are made up of steps and there are only a limited number of steps. Partnership Dancing defines the signals that indicate the steps and the rules on how to proceed.