Leader's Problem #5: Sometimes I don't know whether he wants me to cross or not, and as I'm trying to get my left leg across, I often don't have enough room.
Traditionally, the cross in indicated in the following way. For the sake of this discussion, we'll assume that this sequence is in the parallel system:
1.
The leader moves his right leg outside and forward on the follower's right side as the follower steps backward with her left leg. The moment he takes this step, the follower prepares herself for a cross in the next two steps.
2. Each of the partners takes another step (leader forward left, follower backward right) with the leader remaining outside in the new travel line he has created with his previous step. This movement verifies for the follower that she is definitely being led to a cross. (If the leader wanted to change his mind at this point, for example, he could move back in front of the follower with this step, thereby negating the cross.)
3.
Assuming that the leader remains outside in the previous movement, with the next step the follower slides her left leg in front of her right, producing la cruzada, while the leader brings his legs together (right to left).
4. Both partners may now pause before continuing.
In stating the problem from the follower's point of view, I really opened the door to two potential problems:
1.
The leader doesn't properly indicate that he, in fact, wants her to cross.
2. The leader inadvertently prevents her from crossing.
First problem:
In the parallel system it is quite easy to be clear in the first of the above steps that the leader is moving outside his follower. Even a raw newcomer will be able to feel at this point that her leader has taken a step to her right outside. The problem actually occurs in the next step. In attempting to continue in the new travel line with his left leg, an inexperienced leader will often unconsciously move toward his partner's centerline. (The reason for this is that outside partner movement is inherently difficult and uncomfortable, while in-line movement feels easy and desirable.) By sending himself close enough to his previous in-line juxtaposition the leader now confuses his follower into believing that he is negating the cross. So she keeps walking backward instead of creating la cruzada.
Note to leaders:
You can prevent this confusion from occurring by being very clear in your approach to the cross, particularly with the left-leg-forward step which immediately precedes la cruzada. Make absolutely certain that you don't move to the right toward your partner. This should insure that she knows you want her to cross.
Second problem: As the follower begins to slide her left leg in front of her right to produce la cruzada, the leader moves so close to her that he actually blocks her leg from completing the movement. So she ends up bumping into his leg, and finds herself awkwardly stuck between la cruzada and who knows what.
Note to leaders:
In moving toward the cross, make certain you gradually create distance between yourself and your follower by opening your right arm slightly. This allows her to move away from you enough that at the moment of crossing there will be sufficient room for her to comfortably complete the crossing action.
If you have any questions about this, please feel free to talk to Pat or me at the Firehouse. Next week, Pat will discuss problems that the follower may bring upon herself in attempting to create la cruzada, and we'll learn what the follower can do about a leader who can't seem to ever give her enough room to cross. 