The Role of the Follower in Forró: Presence, Choice, and Participation in Dance
- Rafael Piccolotto de Lima
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Since I started dancing and teaching forró, I have always been particularly interested in sharing the dance floor with people who are truly present in the dance. Over the years, I have often heard comments such as, “I don’t need to know the steps, the leader will take me there,” or “I don’t even know what step I’m doing, I just do it.” These kinds of statements tend to portray the follower as someone who simply reacts to what is happening around them.
My experience has been different. Some of the most interesting dances I have ever had were with partners who, without abandoning the role of follower, shaped the dance constantly through their choices. Sometimes it was the way they responded to a movement. Other times it was the quality of their embrace, a particular quality of movement, or a subtle shift in energy. Small choices like these often changed my own perception and expanded the creative possibilities within that dance.
At the same time, I understand that not everyone experiences dance in the same way.
Questions surrounding the roles of leaders and followers have become increasingly prominent in recent years, often generating strong opinions and very different perspectives.
Some of these broader discussions are also explored in Lead and Follow in Forró - Tradition, Transformation, and Dialogue in Partner Dancing, an article inspired by a conversation with dance teacher Luíz Henrique about contemporary perspectives on leadership and followership in partner dance.
This article presents a personal perspective on the subject, inspired in part by conversations I had with guest instructor Alice Rodrigues and other dance professionals. It explores how followers contribute to dialogue, presence, and shared creation within forró.
In my experience, followers do not participate in a dance simply by “following instructions.” Even when roles remain clearly defined, they continuously influence the experience being created between two people.
The video below shows my first dance with Alice shortly after she arrived in the United States. It was recorded on Halloween at the end of a small workshop in Philadelphia during a brief teaching tour. Without any prior planning, we danced through some of the concepts we had worked on during class for a small group of students.
As you watch, many of the ideas discussed throughout this article become visible in practice.
From Conversation to Reflection: A Partnership with Alice Rodrigues
During the time Alice was in New York, we had many conversations about dance, teaching, and the different roles within partner dancing. The role of the follower came up repeatedly, especially in light of the ongoing discussions surrounding leadership, autonomy, and participation in social dance.
To document some of those reflections, we recorded a conversation for my YouTube channel.
The ideas presented here emerged from that dialogue, combined with my own experience as a leader and teacher.
The Traditional View: Reaction and Execution
For a long time, the most common perception of the follower’s role in forró was that of someone whose primary function was to respond to what the leader proposes through the lead.
While responsiveness remains an essential part of the dance, recent discussions have expanded the focus toward the many ways followers also contribute to the shared experience. This does not necessarily imply shared leadership or the dissolution of roles. Rather, it recognizes that the dance experience is created by two people, even when their roles remain distinct.
As Alice pointed out, the idea is simple: dance is created by two people, not just one.
When we view dance merely as a series of instructions transmitted by one person and executed by the other, we overlook the richness of listening, interpretation, and interaction that has always been present in partner dancing.
The Space of Presence: When the Following Body Also Participates
When we look more closely at dance, it becomes clear that communication is happening constantly between both partners. Even when there is no explicit intervention in the lead, the follower remains an active participant in that physical dialogue.
During our conversation, we discussed how seemingly small details can profoundly affect the experience of a dance: the quality of the embrace, the quality of physical connection, a particular body accent, a change in the way physical connection is used, or even the way someone breathes within the dance.
As Alice observed, these small responses are already forms of communication. They influence the dialogue unfolding between two people and contribute to shaping the dance, even when neither person is consciously trying to redirect it.
This idea is closely related to the concepts discussed in Body Awareness and Connection Tips for Forró Dancers, which explores how subtle physical choices influence communication and connection between partners.
Distinct Roles, Shared Responsibility
It is important to recognize that active participation does not diminish the role of the leader. The roles remain distinct and continue to provide structure to the dance.
Multiple Possibilities Within the Follower Role
Beyond these forms of presence and dialogue, many dancers and educators explore approaches that involve greater departures from the traditional leader-follower structure. In some cases, this includes shared leadership, role reversal, or other proposals that challenge established dynamics. At times, it may even involve actions that intentionally interrupt, ignore, or contradict a lead.
One of the strongest ideas that emerged during our conversation was the importance of choice.
As Alice explained, followers can choose to participate in different ways. They may follow a leader’s proposal with great quality and attention to detail. They may contribute through subtle suggestions within the existing dynamic. They may create new possibilities or participate in more shared forms of interaction.
None of these approaches is inherently superior to the others. What matters is having the freedom to choose, rather than assuming that everyone should relate to dance in exactly the same way.
The central point is that each person should be able to engage with dance in a way that makes sense to them and to their partner. Different pairs may find balance in different dynamics, as long as there is communication and mutual agreement.
Following with Quality Is Also a Choice
During our conversation, Alice also highlighted something that often receives less attention.
In some discussions, there is a tendency to value only those moments when a follower disrupts an existing structure, proposes something unexpected, or significantly changes the direction of the dance.
However, she pointed out that following with quality also requires technique, study, and attention. It is not an automatic or passive process.
Even within a traditional structure, there is room for listening, interpretation, and presence. Following with quality is, in itself, an active form of participation in partner dancing.
It also connects to a broader question explored in Forró Follower: Active or Passive?, where I discuss different ways followers contribute to the dance experience.
Recommended Reading
A reflection on responsibility, communication, musical interpretation, and the challenges of leading in partner dancing.
A reflection on how mutual influence, responsiveness, and exchange shape the experience of partner dancing.
Why some dances feel immediately connected while others do not, even when the technical level appears similar.
An exploration of how connection emerges through the relationship between two dancers and the music they share.
A discussion of comfort, consent, trust, and interpersonal dynamics within social dance environments.
Sobre o autor
Rafael Piccolotto de Lima é o Fundador e Diretor Educacional do Forró New York, além de compositor, arranjador e diretor musical indicado ao Latin Grammy.
Comments