Dear Poppy,
Is there a logical reason the lead holds his left arm straight out with the follow. It seems a little dangerous at times on the dance floor like bumper cars. Wouldn’t it be safer to keep your arms close to your body? Why do we dance like this in partner dancing?
Troubled
Dear Troubled,
Yes there is a logical answer. To avoid collisions with other couples as you dance. But not to have the arms extended as rigidly and inflexible as a bumper on a car. I know those arms can be wild at times and sometimes the lead is overconfident and really exerts his power. If those leads could hear what their partners say about them in the powder room, they might try to not be so pushy.
Ms. Poppy Chiffon — the doyenne of dance, the baroness of ballroom etiquette, the sultana of Southern hospitality — is pleased to answer your dance-related questions. Here are a few queries that Poppy deigned to extract from her mailbag this week. If you have a question that you would like Poppy Chiffon to address, please e-mail her at askpoppy@dancestationusa.com. Ms. Chiffon regrets that she cannot respond individually to questions.
