When we encounter another individual truly as a person, not as an object for use, we become fully human – Martin Buber
When we refer to the connection between two dancers; leader and follower, it’s a reference to both a physical and mental one.
The physical connection refers to the hold and hand position. Through this, a leader can suggest the rhythm and positioning. He can also signal what moves are coming next and lead the follower through his improvised choreography.
A person might have an incredible command of the English language, say maybe a London barrister.
But would that person be able to form a meaningful connection with a stranger? The same barrister might struggle to hold your interest long enough to progress past painful small talk.
For something so intangible, the connection between two dancers is something that you can see the absence or presence of fairly quickly.
I believe one of the main draws and strengths of partnered dancing is not just the aesthetic beauty, but also the therapeutic quality of connecting with other members of your community.
Some members you may have never encountered or spoke to otherwise, some might not even speak the same language.
Maybe making a more concerted effort to form a deeper connection with other people in our lives would make us not only better dancers, but better people as well.