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Basic Guiding - Introduction

Keep the body erect, and the head held high.

Mark time
This is an individual exercise for the start.
This is transferring of the body weight from foot to foot such that only one foot is on the ground, as performed in marching. The body is kept erect as in marching. When lifting the foot off the ground let the knee flex forward such that the lifted foot remains close to the other foot that is supporting the body weight, and it should not swing backwards from the knee. Keep doing this exercise till you are able to do it with a constant rhythm without exertion and much of concentration.

Next give the stepping a count, like left- right-left-right. Once this is achieved, then replace the counts with numbers, like 1 for left and 2 for the right foot. Note that the count is when the complete body weight is resting on one foot. (The count 1 can be taken on the right foot if one wishes.) Now keeps doing this exercise with count till you are satisfied that the count and the stepping are in rhythm.

Next part is to repeat all of above with small steps moving to forward, backwards, to the either side, turning clock wise and counter clockwise. Note here that the rhythm should not be broken and the count one should always be on the same foot with which you started. For the start you could do the movement sequentially as mentioned above, but the aim should be to do the same at random. The change of movement, for example from the forward to backward movement can be done at any count.

Always practice in a group as far as possible. Similar to "ready, get set, go ... " to start a race, here we can use the count "1, 2", so that all can start practice at the same time and be in step. And all need to count together and loud, and never look down.

Now comes the last part. All the above is repeated with a dancing partner. Both the partners stand at comfortable distance and facing each other. Lady holds the man by placing both the hands on his shoulders. The grip should be firm and comfortable to feel and study the body movements of the man when he moves. The man does not hold the lady, and both the partners keep the body erect. The gap between the partners is kept steady.

Visualization
This posture and guiding pattern is taken automatically and instantly when crossing the road, and you wish to stop a person from coming in the way of an oncoming vehicle. Also the the majority of the times, the guiding is done such that it is gentle, firm and neither loose the balance.

Normally the posture mentioned above is taken when one feels excited, and feels on top of the world. All the confidence flows out and invariably there is a need to take some one along and express and share the joy. In such cases also the postures and guiding takes place exactly similar to the one needed in the Dance-Sport.

Also when one is under sudden pressures and needs to shoulder responsibility the same happens as mentioned above, the qualities required for dancing.