Ballroom Dance

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The most recent research pins autism firmly on neanderthal genes - and the most significant IMHO is the suppression of the mirror neuron system. Other HFA aspects that impact the ability to lead and follow are proprioception and the ability to process multiple sound threads simultaneously (and potentially be distracted by them - losing the beat).

Once you get past the basic lessons, you begin to hear things like "lead and follow communications originate from the spine - not the contact points in the arms." At that point, I'm back to aspie-type rules to get me through "before you step, imagine a movement vector from your core".

Any ballroom dancers, or better yet, ballroom instructors or champions out there in the aspie universe?

I know some people with AS who have done ballroom latin, at some dance festivals you tend to find lots of geeks / nerds.

Nope, don't ballroom dance, might end doing it eventually. I am into figure skating, though, and the "core" movement is a big thing in skating. One thing a guy who skates at a very recreational level, but ballroom dances at a higher level told me, I have problems with my arms when skating. He said most men in general are good at footwork, but then bad at the upper body part of the movements, and most females are the opposite. But when I skate, I at times don't know what to do with my arms, but I've learned to a point to use the shoulders, and then the "core" as a steering wheel, if that makes any sense.

I am a dancer - however I do not do ballroom. I do street latin and have competed in nationals here previously (often against ballroom dancers) and I teach currently.

I understand ballroom and have been asked to teach ballroom students on multiple occasions (usually to heighten their understanding of musicality, connection, leading, framing, etc) so I am somewhat familiar with it.

Leading and following actually orginate from your core, not your spine. That misbelief is one of the reasons ballroom dancers are so unnecessary stiff - you can have excellent technique by using your core perfectly, it is not necessary to use your spine and be ridiculous stiff to the point that it restricts your natural movement.

I often find ballroom dancers tend to be less responsive and sensitive at following and leading for that reason.

It looks like it would be fun. I need new core workouts, anyway.