Why heel leads?

[KevinL]

When I see new people dancing they rarely do heel leads, sometimes even after the teacher explains that heel leads are an integral part of smooth/standard dances.

Where did heel leads come from and why do we dance like that? The easy answer is that is how it is described in the syllabus books, but there has to be more to it than that.

[DanceMentor]

I'm thinking about the rolling action of the foot. It seems that momentum (eg flight) is more easily attained with the rolling action.

[spatten]

When you see new people dancing without heel leads, you may also notice they aren't really generating much flight either. I think DanceMentor is correct, we have to use the heels cause there is no where to go when you get to the toe.

Although, to the contrary, I have seen some jazz walks that travel pretty good also (and I don't think they use the heel- but I haven't taken jazz in awhile)

Scott

[tasche]

To support the shoe industry by wearing down the heels faster to encourage rapid replenshiment of shoes :wink:

[Hank]

Toe leads cause the foot to be like an anchor on the floor, which impairs any type of driving or swinging motion. Swing comes from dropping the body weight in a pendulum motion, which is impossible when doing toe leads. Toe leads also cause the body to pitch forward, destroying posture. They also cause the body to be over the knee and foot far too soon, again destroying any type of driving or swinging action because there is no place to push off from. They also drastically shorten the length of steps, which destroys any body flight.

[Warren J. Dew]

I agree with what everyone else is saying. I'd point out that heel leads also help keep one's leg out of one's partner's way.

Try it - move one foot forward, in preparation for taking a step, with the toe in contact with the floor. Now roll the foot back to the heel (such that it will come down in the same place on the floor). Notice how the knee moves back, out of partner's way.

[pygmalion]

That's cool, Warren. I will try it. Did I mention that it's really nice having you here? People with ballroom experience and knowledge, who are willing to share. Very nice, indeed. :D Thanks. 8)

[msc]

A little caution here. While I agree with much of what is said, in a general sense, the footwork of the Feather step, the length of the corresponding strides, and the presence therein of pendulum swing should be kept in mind.

I'd never thought of Warren's point, but if you stride underneath your partner's torso, it's undeniable the Heel lead keeps the knee from behaving in unfortunate ways.

On the other hand, if the man strides through the lady with a right foot Heel lead, checking the backward progress of the lady, then sharply rolls the pressure on his right foot from the base of the Heel to the inside edge of the right big toe, the knee will pop up and veer inwards, causing something interesting to happen. Anyone know what that is?

[tasche]

On a semi-related note has anyone found that supermarket floors make the best place to practice your standard (in sneakers). Theres just something about those aisles that make me want to trot down them

Ok back to regular business

[pygmalion]

No, not supermarkets. Walmart's the best! :wink: :lol:

[tasche]

Wallys world round here tends to be a little seedy and crowed

Now the 24hr VONS is great for 2am jaunts down the aisle

[delamusica]

Beginning ballroom dancers can get away with toe leads because they don't move very far . . . The second you try to take a large step forward, you have to take a heel lead (barring anyone with strange abilities to bend their ankles . . . :? ). Seems like moving around the floor is the very simplest way to explain why we take heel leads . . . if you don't, you're stuck!

[Genesius Redux]

Everything here is very interesting--want to hear more. But here's my two cents.

We don't walk on our toes, do we? It's unnatural. A lot of what we learn in ballroom teaches us to do what comes largely naturally.

And if you're really down in your knees, there's no way you can walk on your toes without looking really stupid. :lol:

[ShyDancer]

Im under the impression that using my heel gives me smoothness and the ablity to use my back leg for the power needed in the rise.

In no technical terms, heel leads make me feel graceful when I dance, I feel like a look good and thats a surefire confidence booster.

I have to say that learning to use heel leads was very confusing to me at first, but once I learnt how to do it well my dancing improved a lot.
Now I cant imagine dancing without the heel leads, I dont know how I got by for that long without using it.

[chachagirlie]

msc writes:
On the other hand, if the man strides through the lady with a right foot Heel lead, checking the backward progress of the lady, then sharply rolls the pressure on his right foot from the base of the Heel to the inside edge of the right big toe, the knee will pop up and veer inwards, causing something interesting to happen. Anyone know what that is?

Not really sure...But the first thing that came to mind is either the dancer will bump knees with his lady or his lady will naturally try to move to CBMP to allow him to pass through her.

[Chris Stratton]

"Checking the backward progress" sounds like the key phrase.

[msc]

You're both on track. Checking means that the woman's progress has stopped over her left foot ... and generally, the connection occurs between thighs, perhaps even knee to thigh, but rarely knee to knee ...

[Warren J. Dew]

That's cool, Warren. I will try it. Did I mention that it's really nice having you here? People with ballroom experience and knowledge, who are willing to share.
Thanks! I've actually noticed quite a number of nice, knowledgeable people here.

Speaking of which, does someone know how to get directly to the last page of a topic from the topic list? When I click on a "Goto page" link, I always end up on the first page of posts, even when I think I'm clicking on page 5 or something....

On the other hand, if the man strides through the lady with a right foot Heel lead, checking the backward progress of the lady, then sharply rolls the pressure on his right foot from the base of the Heel to the inside edge of the right big toe, the knee will pop up and veer inwards, causing something interesting to happen. Anyone know what that is?
Depending on how you do it exactly, you might end up leading a high rondez.

[msc]

Depending on how you do it exactly, you might end up leading a high ronde

We have a winnah!!!

But as Warren implied, the lead is tricky.

[ForrestOutman]

Why Heel Leads?

Heel leads are not superior in any way to toe leads. They do allow for a more natural rolling action of the ankle in walking actions as compared to toe leads. The other attributes are not technically sound, but more likely trained preferences. I can and often do toe lead with equal stride length to that of the heel lead. I'm a professional dance educator and social dance historian.

The heel lead is a great tool and allows for comfortable walking in dances, which originally was taboo as dances shouldn't be walks. The other side of the story is of course the current sentiment that toe leads are somehow inferior. Argentine Tango dancers take every bit of large of strides as any American or International trained dancers. Argentine Tango dancers are on par or even better at being smooth and balanced in carriage than most Fox Trot or Waltz dancers. Power and speed are most efficiently generated when weight on the balls of the feet, just ask any athlete if being flat footed or heel leading is a good idea. Ballet dancers are amazingly balanced and utilize toe leads.

My point is learn them they are great, but don't make them out to be more than they are. The science of human motion tells us otherwise ; )

FYI, I stumbled upon this via google while checking out an article I wrote on the lost art of toe leading.

Sincerely, Forrest Outman

[dlliba10]

Not that this helps the conversation too much one way or the other, but Charlie Penatello made the point at this year's American Style Congress that all dances used to slide forward on the ball of the foot (even tango). It's a strange concept since my body has been trained to drive forward and take a heel lead, but the alternatives do intrigue me.

[fascination]

I am no dance historian...I am not a pro...I am a moderately proficient pro-am dancer ranging from silver to open in all 4 styles...my understanding is that, particularly in std, smooth, the basic action is the same as walking which means we heel lead because that is how we walk...and if we are coming from a risen position it is a toe because that is logical and natural...as is the fact that almost every heel lead begins as a toe....shrug

[btfgus]

Why Heel Leads?

I'm a professional dance educator and social dance historian.

The heel lead is a great tool and allows for comfortable walking in dances, which originally was taboo as dances shouldn't be walks.

Sincerely, Forrest Outman

The pioneers of our art form were making dance accessible to the common man. Ballroom was the night club dancing of it's day. By using heel leads, encouraged the thought, if you can walk you can dance. It was it a bit of an "up yours" to more formal dancing such as ballet were toe leads and turn out are required.