Is there a silent understanding that followers should backlead during class combos in intermediate/advanced classes because it’s essentially choreography?

[u/Lazy-Horse1698]

I dropped in at new studio for the first time tonight and found that several leads in the intermediate/advanced class treated me like I couldn’t dance and critiqued me when I didn’t just do a move (I was waiting for it to be led. I was able to do the combo just fine with leads who were giving proper signals, so it was not a matter of lack of skill). I looked around and saw that when other followers danced with the leads who gave me trouble they were able to do the combo flawlessly. I kept watching and eventually caught on that they were just doing the choreography since we already know it and can go without needing the lead.

I wanted to ask the instructor if for this class we are just supposed to be doing choreo like i imagine you’d do performance type class, but was scared to offend. This was just advertised as a regular partner work class, so I thought I was supposed to wait until the lead got it. The instructor rarely corrected anyone and just kept adding on to the combo. It was not a hard combo and I could do it all, but again I was waiting to be led.

Has any other follow ever experienced this, or in general a lead being rude because you couldn’t follow them? Do you ever just do the choreo because you know it in some of your classes?

[u/IcySeaworthiness7248]

No… they just haven’t been taught to FOLLOW. At my school, we are told to follow the lead, even in class, even if they mess up the choreo. New leads do gripe about this (I’m an intermediate follow and will just follow their incorrect lead, incorrectly), but then I remind them “I’m following! Maybe do this and it will be more clear?”