Basic Mechanical Model of Lead and Follow in Ballroom Dancing

Abstract

Ballroom Dancing is performed as the concept without priorly arranged choreography prepared in advance. This requires appropriate Lead and Follow during the dance progression. The “lead and follow” has been explained literally in various manners in many books, however, not sufficient in scientific meaning. In this study a simple mechanical model is proposed as a first step of building models that can explain actual various lead and follow mechanism. One dimensional model is presented in which Leader and Follower are connected at one contact position. The constitutive relation at the contact position is expressed as Visco-elastic Voigt model. As an example of dance movement, typical swing movement by the leader is applied. The sensitivity of the follower’s response and the rigidity at the contact position are taken as the parameters. The results are presented for the parameters. Further development of the model is discussed.