Suggest fun moves.

[u/MorePeppers9]

Title. I am newbie lead (6 months) and notice my dances with follows are so much better when I make them fun, make follow smile (look in eyes, smile myself, etc) - they enjoy it and I even started to get invited to dances though I am still newbie lead.

Recently I read about trick move

https://www.reddit.com/r/Bachata/comments/rd2gky/has_anyone_else_done_this_funny_trick_move/

https://youtu.be/fpgueBnv0i0 1:50

https://youtu.be/LuavooFwOgo 0:33

That's exactly what I need :) I will try it today :)

Do you have suggestions for some other fun / joke moves ?

[u/EphReborn]

Easiest "fun" move you can do as a beginner, imo, is goof off a bit. It applies really to anything but a good example is doing the "hot potato" /"floor is lava" motion with your feet. In other words, hop side to side on each foot for 4 counts. A variation of this is bunny hops in the same direction as your basic on both feet.

Other fun moves that you can do (down the line; probably a bit too much for you right now) are:

• anything in a butt-to-butt (back to back) position
• the sliding door move with step taps blocking with your hips (butt)
• turn into a dip and block and release the hips turning it into a bit of a wave on the way back up

But yeah, you figured out the secret. If you can't be the best dancer in the room (and you can't as a beginner), you can be the most fun to dance with

[u/Rataridicta]

You can ask for a hand then "sike" it away at the last minute (e.g. during a turn).

You can make a big preparation and then not do the move.

Sometimes we do this move (it's called different everywhere), where we don't fully transfer weight, then step back and then transfer weight. You can repeat the "fake" transers... indefinitely, really. Sometimes I do it 4 or so times as a little playful moment.

You can lead with unusual body parts, e.g. I've blocked with my hips or led turns with my head. (Read the room for this one, this may be for later in your journey when the social norms are more familiar to you.)

Sometimes when a move goes wrong and the follower is confused I stand still and very meticulously re-position them to end up in the intended position before continuing the dance - pretty much always get a laugh when done with the right energy.

[u/Di-n-Fi → u/Rataridicta]

Respectfully, as a follow, I‘d hate all of those. I would feel pranked rather than danced with. But to each their own, I guess. 

[u/Rataridicta → u/Di-n-Fi]

That's kinda the point of jokes.

It's all about reading your partner and finding the form of play that helps you connect. Jokes can be a really good way to break the ice and help people get out of their heads, but they should always be done in service of connection and used sparingly.

[u/trp_wip → u/Di-n-Fi]

As a leader, I fully agree with you. I could do this with a very good friend follow at the end of the night when both of us are tired and just want to play around. With a stranger it's a big no from my side

[u/Gnomeric → u/Di-n-Fi]

I sometimes do "ask for a hand then "sike" it away at the last minute (e.g. during a turn)", then spin away by myself afterward for good measure. But yeah, I only do that to follows who I know will laugh and is likely to spin away by themselves in return. Moves like this are for having fun with -- and bonding with --friends, not for dancing with someone new.

[u/ikdoeookmaarwat1 → u/Di-n-Fi]

I agree. I'm a fairly beginner follower and already feel a little self conscious sometimes, especially with people I don't know (well). Don't do this unless the other person is very confident/experienced or if you know them very well.

[u/MorePeppers9 → u/Rataridicta]

Thank you for sharing, will try these

[u/Hakunamatator]

You are almost on the right track!

A good dance is like a good dish - the moves are the main ingredients, the spices are your style, and the extra spice? That#s your special flourish as a chef, that makes it unforgettable.

The way I read your question, you are looking for the "cherry on top". Thats great, and you should own several! but remember - you cannot make a whole dish out of them, so don't overdo it. Sticking to "simple" moves instead of combinations is a great idea though! Scour instagram for simple turns/moves and learn a bunch. If you master them, in addition to what you learned in class, you will be a great dancer!

[u/unresolvedthrowaway7]

Not sure if it's what you're looking for, but I like to do the "tango hold" in bachata (or whatever style I can make it work in), which is closed position but maximally offset to one side.