Natural to Spin Turn in Waltz

[Dancebug]

It should have been taken care of long time ago, right? In the process of reevaluating my own dance level, I see I have a problem there. How can I do the transition smoothly without giving the feeling that I am pushing into my partner? Does this mean that I do not have enough strength in my ankle?

[Chris Stratton]

Oh, you mean the transition that is so hard that the men give up on it and only the lady continues to be asked to generate a full forward inline movement when lowering from foot closure?

[Josh]

How can I do the transition smoothly without giving the feeling that I am pushing into my partner? Does this mean that I do not have enough strength in my ankle?

It could be that in the process of lowering, yes, your foot can't support your lowering forward and it releases too quickly off of the supporting leg (left leg).

It could be that your hips do not continue to move forward, related to the above, and that you instead allow your upper body weight, including your head weight, to fall onto the man. In addition to trying this, be sure that as you lower, you go forward, but that your head continues to move on the outside of the space you share with your partner. Let the upper body, including sternum, turn to the right as you move forward, but don't let your head turn to the right, which would bring it into the space you are trying to stay out of.

[Terpsichorean Clod]

I've found this thread (http://danceforums.com/showthread.php?t=7786) helpful. :)

[Dancebug]

Josh,
You seem to say that I should move forward into spin turn while I am lowering. I think I or we have been trying to lower and change weight in the feet quickly at the end of natural turn and then proceed to spin turn. Do you think it is not the right way?

[Josh]

Josh,
You seem to say that I should move forward into spin turn while I am lowering. I think I or we have been trying to lower and change weight in the feet quickly at the end of natural turn and then proceed to spin turn. Do you think it is not the right way?

The lowering action should happen pretty quickly, but you should definitely be moving forward as you do so. Imagine that you're a roller coaster car sitting at the top of a hill on the tracks. You have potential energy, that, when you let yourself lower AND move forward, can turn into kinetic energy moving not just down but forward. The roller coaster car doesn't drop straight down, and then go forward. When your right foot releases at the last possible moment to take its step forward, you should be well on your way forward into step 1 of the spin turn.