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TOCA TEACHER · Lesson 15 · Teaching

Teach the leader and the follower differently

The false lesson for the leader is how to control your partner. The real one is how to give clear information. Teach clarity, not control.

Dawou Tarraxo, pioneer of Tarraxo. Teach the leader and the follower differently

The false lesson for the follower is let your partner take you. The real one is how to understand the information and react to it. A follower is the most active listener on the floor.

Here is the practice that trains you. Take one movement and teach it from both sides. If you can do that, you can teach anything.

Lead and follow in kizomba are two crafts, not one lesson.

Teach the leader and follower differently, step by step

  1. LEAD AND FOLLOW SHARE A DANCE, NOT THE SAME LEARNING TASK.
  2. The false lesson for the leader: how to control your partner.
  3. The real one: how to give clear information to your partner.
  4. The false lesson for the follower: let your partner take you.
  5. The real one: how to understand the information and react to it.
  6. A follower is the most active listener on the floor.
  7. Take one movement and teach it from both sides.
Do your corrections respect the role?

The full carousel

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This lesson comes from the book

Page 223 of The teacher's guide by Dawou Tarraxo, the TOCA Method page this lesson comes from
The teacher's guide · page 223

The student’s book takes dancers from the first foundations to real feeling. The teacher’s guide gives instructors the structure to pass it on. Both in English, French and Spanish, on Amazon and Apple Books.

The student’s book The teacher’s guide

The method

T O C A

Two bodies. One connection.

TTouchThe connection with your partner. Feeling through contact, never through force.
OObservationListening to your partner’s body, energy and tempo.
CControlMastery of your own movement. Precision without tension.
AAwarenessFull presence: with yourself, your partner and the music.