Smooth dance tips

[dancin_feet]

Hey just joined up and this forum looks great! Hopefully can get some tips to help with my dancing. :D

One problem I am having at the moment, though is forward poise and leg extensions in the smooth dances, ie Waltz, Foxtrot and Tango. I can extend my leg back, point the toe to get maximum distance, but when I change my weight onto that foot, my weight automatically goes back onto the heel, instead of staying on the toe. I then lose the extension in the next step because my balance is off and I am moving away from my partner, losing closed dance position.

Have been working on this with my instructor for about 4 months now, with exercises and such, and while he is encouraging, I don't feel as if it is getting any better. :(

Any tips that may lead to my breakthrough in this? How long did others here take to "get it"?

[Sagitta]

Welcome to df dancin_feet!!! You are way more advanced then me, so I can't provide much help. A couple years from now, maybe? [shrug] However, I'm happy to have you onboard! :) And I'm sure you'll get some help pretty soon!!

[Adwiz]

when I change my weight onto that foot, my weight automatically goes back onto the heel, instead of staying on the toe.

I'm not a teacher, but I'll venture that you may be moving your body too much from your chest area rather than from the hips. That creates a pendulum action which would put that heel pressure in place as you move back. It can be very subtle but most people do it (my teacher has been working with me on this quite a bit). The key is to do everything entirely from the hips, all the lateral movement originates here but most people raise their center of gravity just a little too high causing all kinds of balance problems.

[LauraB]

Okay, you need to slow down the weight transfer. After you extend the leg, the key is to bend that back knee, gradually, at the same time as you straighten the front knee. Do it very slowly, and you should have a moment where your body is exactly halfway between your feet, with both knees bent the same amount. You should have your back heel off the floor, as well as your front toe. Then you will be able to see if your shoulders are going back too fast, or your hips. Keep your hips directly under your shoulders, and hold your stomach in to feel your center. Then pull your front foot back. Your body weight (hips and shoulders) will not be all the way over the "back" foot until your feet are together. I hope this makes sense.

[pygmalion]

My styling coach gave me a killer exercise to help me with that, Laura B. Basically, it's just getting into that split-weight position, between the feet, and holding it as long as you can. Ouch! You can really feel it in your legs, but you get used to controlling the weight transfer.

[dancin_feet]

Hmmm lots of good ideas here. LauraB, I have tried to slow it down, but how on earth do you balance on your back toe and front heel without ending up on the floor?? :? Maybe if I try using two chairs not to take the weight, but for balance?

Adwiz, my instructor told me when initially trying to get my posture correct that I had to stick my bum out. :lol: Maybe I should try moving from there instead!

Thanks for your ideas guys. I'll give 'em a go. Anyone with anything else that may help, please feel free to enlighten me! :lol:

[Adwiz]

my instructor told me when initially trying to get my posture correct that I had to stick my bum out.

Aside from any exercise you were given to correct a specific problem, the butt should always be tucked under -- slightly forward. This gives your center more power (and looks better, of course). That's true of all dancing, both Standard and Latin.

My coach told me that almost all guys have a problem with leaning into their partner. This is caused partly by not tucking the pelvis forward, and also by moving from the chest rather than the center. Even if it's only a small amount, this lean causes not only balance problems but makes the man's body a kind of wall moving towards the lady and restricting her ability to dance freely. If you are truly upright, with the pelvis forward and the weight over the center, then all movement becomes easier for both the man and the lady. It's like being pulled forward and back entirely by a cable attached to your belt. Since he's been working with me on that I'm aware of it and see it in many dancers, even competitors. I had no idea it was such a common problem.

[msc]

Indeed.

The technique described by Adwiz also opens your stride. Moreover, in a backing movement, if you keep the hips tucked, slightly forward, and concentrate on "staying as long as possible over the supporting foot," then you'll actually hit the split position, and with the right timing. It's a strange thing, but it seems to work.

There is a drawback to keeping the hips forward and tucked. You'll find that while you are capable of generating a great deal of forward drive, your backing power is quite limited. Thus you need to have a partner you can trust to supply forward drive through their pelvis/center, and as Adwiz has mentioned, that can be a hard thing to find.

[pygmalion]

Ah-ha! So it looks like I got the answer to your shaping question in the supporting leg thread at least partially right!

I wish I'd followed the natural line of thought and asked about the backward steps, though. Shoulda figured that out on my own. Now I have to go try some side steps with and without shaping, and feel what I feel. Hmm.

[dancin_feet]

Ok, your pointers here are helping a lot. During my home practice last night, I thought for a split second that I could sense when I wasn't doing it right. Half the battle, eh?

I have been told that when stepping back I tend to step then release the front toe, where I should be pushing off the front foot, then stepping and releasing the front toe almost at the same time.

It's starting to make sense, I think. I'm getting excited waiting for my next private lesson to see if I am actually getting it or just kidding myself (have done this before). If I am getting it, his face will resemble :shock: .

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[msc]

df-
Think of rolling off the foot as you push, letting the pressure travel along the inside edge of the foot from the ball to the Heel. Then the toe will naturally release. It's kind of like a wheel.

[dancin_feet]

Thought you guys may be interested to know, that it has started to fall into place. Did Tango last night in my private lesson, and while it was a bit bumpy to begin with, by the end of my lesson I was actually getting it!

And yes I was right, my instructor's face did resemble :shock: ! He says I'm still lowering my back heel too quickly at times, but all the other aspects, like forward poise, extending, etc are working quite well!

Yiiiipppppeeeeeee!!!!!!!! ****happy dance happy dance****

Thanks for your help guys, your advice has started to make it all come together. :D :D :D :D :D :D

[pygmalion]

Yay, dancin_feet! :banana: :banana: :banana:

[dancin_feet]

*** Further update ***

I was speaking to my instructor last night about the studio exams which are coming up next month. He was only going to put me up for Preliminary level because of the trouble I was having with closed dance position.

He tells me last night that he thinks that everything is working much better than it was and is putting me up for Intermediate level!!! :D :D :D

You can't wipe the smile off my face today - mission accomplished. Now that I've got his confidence to be tested at the higher level, I know that I'll pass it. Just had to convince him that I was ready.

Woooooohooooooo!!!

Sorry guys, just had to let it out to people who would understand! 8)

[SDsalsaguy]

Way to go df! :D

[twnkltoz]

Hi Dancin Feet!

I'd like to add a couple more things to what the above posts said:

1. When going backward, keep your front toe on the floor for as long as possible...you'll be able to push off that leg longer, creating more stability. Ditto going forward...keep the heel of your back foot down as long as possible.

2. When moving, push off your standing leg only until your moving leg hits the floor. Then, pull yourself to that foot. This helps you to control the motion more, plus it's easier! Each leg muscle works for a shorter amount of time.