When you dig deep to see what makes a leader able to lead ochos successfully, one of the things that frequently comes up very early in that discussion is: "you lead with your chest, not with the arms." While it's true that you do not want to lead with the arms, we really believe that the chest lead starts down below the chest, more toward the center of your core. (For now, think of it as around your belly button.)

We know this is a quite advanced idea, but just for a few times, try thinking about your core below your chest when you pivot your chest to cause the follower to pivot. Just think about this area and that should be enough to cause at least part of your movement to be generated from there. Once you have that coordination so it's a little comfortable, see if you don't feel that this is a very powerful lead.

Another thing we tell people who lead ochos is to be sure to wait for the follower to finish her (or his) pivot. Again, that's true. But it's a little bit of a simplification. The goal is to find that exact moment when the follower has finished the pivot to start your side step so that the follower, and the audience, can experience the ocho as a perfect, smooth progression.

And this means that it isn't only following that is about listening to your partner. In a very real way, leading is also about listening to your partner.