How to dance with a woman and survive:
1. Rule number one - wear your manlihood shifted to your left side. (because of rule #2)
2. Always position yourself so she is straddling your right leg. Your right leg should be able to go through hers and vice versa - you must be offset. Aim
to keep your right pectoral between her two pectorals
3. DO NOT place your right hand lower than where the bra strap would be - no holding at the waist - keep that hand up higher on the shoulder blade. You can control EVERYTHING she does when you have contact with the rib cage. I tell my guys to imagine her breasts are on her back in relatively the same distance from the floor and then cup one gently. (Although never say this when teaching a father/daughter wedding dance)
4. Keep that hand with fingers closed, it's cupping, not groping. And keep it on the back. We don't need you to fondle the side boob.
5. Do whatever it takes to get some instruction about rhythm - get Hank or some drummer to teach you the difference between an upbeat and a downbeat and just practice keeping time on your own.
6. Just move on your own - don't ever try to "lead" her by any force at all. It's follow the leader, not "do this or I will physically force you to". Move and hold your own arms still and in a fixed position, not stiff, just still. Just move anywhere, forward, side, doesn't matter, one step at a time, but forget about her, she needs a leader and you just have to take control of yourself and let her worry about how to keep up. Keep your offset position at all times and you are golden.
7. When you want her to turn simply raise your left hand up like you are giving the turn signal for a right turn, but slightly higher. Women just turn when this happens, it's universal. They may not turn the direction you think they will but they will go for it, trust me. Keep the fingers lightly connected, no gripping and let her turn under her own arm. You don't need to extend your arm forward, she turns under her own arm when you give the go ahead.
8. After she has turned - NEVER attempt to pull her back in - just go to her and keep your composure of cool and in control. She is likely out of control or like she was just let out of a cage at this point, so just be a storm chaser.
9. Get something that weighs about 50 lbs. like a small suitcase filled. Now, attempt to set it on the floor. Notice how you bend your knees and sort of squat and how you will extend your arms toward the floor while holding and supporting the weight, straightening the arms but keeping the biceps flexed. Also notice how it could be bad to bend over - back injury. Remember this stance. Anytime you are going to attempt to dip her or you just end up having to catch her as she throws herself into one and you are just damage control - remember the suitcase - DO NOT BEND at the waist - lower your center by squating and control the weight with the legs and biceps. Keep your head up.
10.If you do attempt to dip her, always, always always remember your stance and support her ONLY with hands just below her shoulder blades and never at the waist. To initiate it - draw her close to you straddling your right leg so that her body is actually touching yours and close, and then slowly begin to bed your knees and then let her take it from there while you control the weight of her upper body with legs and biceps. To bring her up use
your legs only - start standing up again and she will just pop right up ( I hope).
Always look at her like she is doing EXACTLY what you wanted her to do and never give a sour or frustrated face. Don't take your eyes off her - make her think she is your favorite dance partner of all time. You can visually control her - I know how to do it. If she tries to lead just gently take control again, laugh and make sure you give her plenty of opportunities to do an underarm turn because for some reason it gets women high as a kite.
Always thank her for the dance, even if you've been together for years, and walk her off the floor like a gentleman by holding her hand or the arm in arm escort. Thank her for her patience and tell her you really love dancing with her and want to do it more so that you can really get a feel for each other (lie, we have to).