I have been learning Salsa dancing. ( I have now reached the point were I almost don’t suck… A big improvement from where I started)
It is a amazing that two people who have never met before, can come together on the dance floor and perform these intricate movements together. ( this is social dancing… Ball room requires lots of practice together) 
How can they do this?
Communication
The communication is all non verbal. It is a combination of hand position, gestures, and body position.
I explain in my workshops the importance of non verbal communication between the model and the photographer.
Both participants should have the basic framework. Â
Both know that one person is responsible for the lead, to guide.
The guiding is the responsibility of the photographer. The model should then pose within the limits set by the photographer. The photographer needs to respond to the moves the model makes…some times unexpected. The same as in Dance.
In my recent trip to Japan, I worked with models of several experience levels ( no experience to veterans)
My Japanese is almost non-existent. We had a translators booked for most of the shoots. I used their services rarely…maybe 5 times per session. Most of the communication was non verbal, or such that language didn’t matter ( an expressive “yes” always lets the model know you like what you see)
I learned a lot about photography and working with models, by learning how to dance.{jcomments on}
