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How to dance (when you can't)

By Jo Ann Jansen Dancer Jansen choreographed the sequences in Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (based on her life) and the upcoming Shall We Dance? It's hard for modern women to think in terms of following a man...even on the dance floor. Look at Jennifer Lopez -- she was a Fly Girl, but the partnering aspect of Shall We Dance? still took practice. The rule for dancing with a man is the same as handling him in real life: Keep your eyes on his hands, and anticipate his next move. * Take your position. Standing about five inches from your partner, grasp his left hand with your right -- he'll probably hold your hand off to your right side. Put your left hand on his right arm, slightly below his shoulder. He should hold you underneath your left shoulder blade. Keep your torso facing his -- unless you're doing a turn or dip. * Read his body language. Following the man doesn't mean letting your own body go limp. There should be some physical tension between your arms and his -- it will help you to know what he's going to do next. Press your right palm into his left. Rest your forearm gently on his upper arm, and lean back slightly into his right hand. If he puts pressure on your left shoulder, step back on your left foot. When he pushes your right hand, move back on your right. If he starts to lift your right hand toward the ceiling, get ready to turn under your own arm. After that, picking up the basic backward, forward, and side foot movements is easy. * Make a graceful recovery. The reason most people lose their balance during a twirl is ...