Weight Transfer

[pygmalion]

Man. It seems like I have a story for every topic. :lol: Here's my weight transfer story. Maybe you've experienced something similar.

When I first switched to my current coach, I don't remember what dance we were working on, but I remember this. He said, "Weight over your right foot." I said,"It is." He said, "Weight over your right foot." I said,"It is." He said, "Weight over your right foot." I said,"It is." He said,"Pick up your left foot." I did. Then my weight was over my right foot. :lol: :lol: I didn't understand what was happening, then, but I was being introduced to the wonderful concept of weight transfer, and standing "over my feet."


Does anyone has experiences, advice, or exercises to share on this really important topic?

[msc]

Excellent. Now all you have to do is learn to dance between your feet.
:tongue:

[pygmalion]

:lol: :lol:
Hey! Wait one hot second. First I have to learn left from right. Then I have to learn to get my weight on the left or the right foot. THEN I can worry about dancing between my feet. I'm still not controlling where my weight is or quickly/slowly I transfer my weight, so I haven't been advanced to the "between the feet on purpose" stage. I'm still at the "between the feet by mistake" stage. LOL! :lol:

[MissAlyssa]

"your OTHER right" is one of my daily comments :]

[hopelessly_addicted]

:lol: :lol:
Hey! Wait one hot second. First I have to learn left from right. Then I have to learn to get my weight on the left or the right foot. THEN I can worry about dancing between my feet. I'm still not controlling where my weight is or quickly/slowly I transfer my weight, so I haven't been advanced to the "between the feet on purpose" stage. I'm still at the "between the feet by mistake" stage. LOL! :lol:

:lol: I had the exact same experiece as you Pygmalion! Lucky to have discovered the concept of weight transfer early in my learning.. Am at the same "between the feet by mistake" stage as you were 2 years ago :lol: Actually, it's not so funny.. it's time I get it! :roll:

Hey, I heard that if weight transfer is done correctly, the correct hip movement would follow. Do you find this to be true?

[Angelo]

Hey, I heard that if weight transfer is done correctly, the correct hip movement would follow. Do you find this to be true?

Interesting point. It probably helps. It seems to me that the correct hip movement (I assume we are talking about latin and rythm here) is also a result of how you prepare for the weight transfer on the step that is coming up next.

An incorrect weight transfer certainly seems to prevent correct hip movement in my experience

[leftfeetnyc]

I was exposed to the "pick up your foot" weight transfer concept early on. I think learning that from the beginning has really helpped with my progression in learning WCS.

Sadly, I was also taught to be there on 1 and with my new coach am re-training my body to get a little more hang and place the foot before the weight transfer. My poor brain and body -- they don't want to communicate with one another!

Am also trying to get my brain around rolling counts, I can do them super super slow (my office thinks I'm crazy as I walk slowly through the halls with half my brain doing the rolling count, the other half saying "hip back, open shoulders, settle, place, transfer weight") but as soon as the music is added I pray for it to be under 80bpm so I can still count them!

[hopelessly_addicted]

Hey, I heard that if weight transfer is done correctly, the correct hip movement would follow. Do you find this to be true?

Interesting point. It probably helps. It seems to me that the correct hip movement (I assume we are talking about latin and rythm here) is also a result of how you prepare for the weight transfer on the step that is coming up next.

An incorrect weight transfer certainly seems to prevent correct hip movement in my experience

Hi Angelo!

ooops I should have specified which dance! Doh... I had salsa in mind when I typed it. Silly me :lol:

Ok then. Perhaps weight transfer doesn't solve the "Correct hip movement" problem just because different style of dances have different idea of what's correct.

For example, for salsa, if by putting your weight on your right foot (by stepping on with the right foot), your left hip rises. From what little knowlegde I have in latin, it seems like it that when stepping backward for example with your right, your right hip rises at the same time...

how you prepare for the weight transfer on the step [u]that is coming up next
Do you mind elaboring on this a little please? :)

[dTas]

this looks like an interesting topic... gotta kepe watching to see how it develops.

weight transfer and cuban motion are big interests of mine. :D

[kansas49er]

My instructor is CONSTANTLY ---OKAY,not constantly but several times each session---reminding me to shift my weight and not be in the "in between my feet" mode when I shouldn't be. . He goes through the same thing-- "pick up you other foot then" if I disagree where my weight is. Alas, it never works. Busted every time. Oh well. I am 50. I am unlearnng a lifetime of bad body movement habits. :)

[Angelo]

Sure thing hopelessly_addicted.


Once the weight if "fully transferred" over one foot, the position of the leg you just came off of has an influence over the body structure. Take an example of stepping onto the right foot. Immediately after the weight transfer the left leg is in a relatively extended position. The action of "drawing" or "collecting" that leg with all its associated mass into a position where it is directly underneath the body can be used to allow the pelvis to move in a direction that helps to prepare your next step by applying more weight downward through the standing foot so you have suffficient pressure to execute the next step.

Its easier to feel in a slow latin dance like international style rumba. Its pretty easy to get the feel of in merengue (if you like merengue). In a faster dance like Mambo/salsa it may be less apparent, but I'm pretty sure it still apllies.

That was kind of wordy, so I hope it makes some sense. Otherwise ask me again and I'll try t o clarify

[dTas]

Angelo,

you're assuming that the person transfering their weight is straightening their leg somewhere during the weight transfer. it is possible to transfer weight without straightening.

i understand what you're saying but someone who doesn't straighten their legs yet might not.

and also the concept of pushing through the base leg to transfer weight to the arriving foot.

[Twilight_Elena]

I've been in the "lift your other foot" trick from the beginning, so I've never had a problem with realising where the weight is. Very useful trick if you want to make sure your weight is fully transferred.
And yet another fascinating discovery in weight transferring was this: you can transfer weight to a bent leg, too! :o :o :o :roll:
This I found out in samba, though I should have seen it in the waltz, too. Salsa had, of course, taught me the same thing pretty early on. :wink:

Twilight Elena

[Angelo]

Angelo,

you're assuming that the person transfering their weight is straightening their leg somewhere during the weight transfer. it is possible to transfer weight without straightening.

i understand what you're saying but someone who doesn't straighten their legs yet might not. .

I am not assuming anything of the kind. What I said also applies to international Samba where the legs are not straightened. You're assuming that I am assuming. I am assuming that the basis for your objection is my use of the word "extended" (correct me if i am wrong about this). One can extend a leg with a bent knee because the extension I am referring to has its origin at the hip joint. Also, I was refferring to the extended position of the leg that was just come off of.

[and also the concept of pushing through the base leg to transfer weight to the arriving foot.


What about it?

[Chris Stratton]

In addition to being aware which foot the weight is on, the next stage is being aware where in the standing foot it is.

[Angelo]

In addition to being aware which foot the weight is on, the next stage is being aware where in the standing foot it is.


Indeed.

[Kuriin]

I suggest going into fifth position and begin to tendu to every side (en croix for example) and plie after each one. If the plie looks ugly with one leg more open than the other, that means your weight isn't equal.

^^ That's a huge problem for dancers.

Putting your weight on one foot just means standing over the foot, weight on the balls of the foot.

[Flat Shoes]

When I first switched to my current coach, I don't remember what dance we were working on, but I remember this. He said, "Weight over your right foot." I said,"It is." He said, "Weight over your right foot." I said,"It is." He said, "Weight over your right foot." I said,"It is." He said,"Pick up your left foot." I did. Then my weight was over my right foot. :lol: :lol:
It's a classic. And it's even better when the instructor puts a finger towards your side on the opposite side of the foot you're supposed to lift. :D

[Chris Stratton]

I suggest going into fifth position and begin to tendu to every side (en croix for example) and plie after each one. If the plie looks ugly with one leg more open than the other, that means your weight isn't equal.

^^ That's a huge problem for dancers.

Well, it depends on which sort of dancers. Contrasting to ballet-related forms, ballroom & latin have hardly any positions with equal weight division, at least no symmetric ones.

[funkrockgirl]

I just want to know whether weight transfer in dance is like weight transfer in figure skating (i do a lot of that in figure skating, so ya)

[pygmalion]

I just want to know whether weight transfer in dance is like weight transfer in figure skating (i do a lot of that in figure skating, so ya)

Hmm. Interesting. 8) Any dance/skating parallels or observations you'd like to share? :D

[Ms_Sunlight]

My own experience (limited as it is) says that if you transfer your weight over the foot you're supposed to be stepping on, you're much more stable.

Dancing with a guy last night (salsa class) and I noticed that he didn't give me any space to move in towards him. So when I was trying to do moves that started with me stepping forward, I had no space to do it. Very uncomfortable. When he did his backstep (I later noticed watching from the side) he just stuck his foot out behind without moving the trunk of his body over the foot. Watching him, it made him look gawky and unstable. It just didn't work.

I can't comment on skating because being on ice gives me the fear (bad childhood experiences, broken bones, pain, blah blah) but what I've noticed about dancing is, when you do it properly, it's very sensible. Trying for decent technique really makes life a lot easier for yourself.

[hopelessly_addicted]

When he did his backstep (I later noticed watching from the side) he just stuck his foot out behind without moving the trunk of his body over the foot. Watching him, it made him look gawky and unstable.

This is exactly why I said in what attributes of men attract women at social dance (http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=2428&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15//url) that I look at the basic steps of salseros! Really! good technique (eg good weight transfer) does make a lota difference 8)

I just want to know whether weight transfer in dance is like weight transfer in figure skating (i do a lot of that in figure skating, so ya)

Hmm. Interesting. 8) Any dance/skating parallels or observations you'd like to share? :D
Ditto! I’ve googled before on “how to spin” and a few stuff came up under figure skating.. the essential technique of how to spin in skating seemed quite similar to salsa/ballroom, but it’d be great if we could hear from a skater herself! :)

This is interesting... I wonder why but it seems like more ballroom dancers tend to show interest or post when topics related to the “hip movement” come up.. Like dTas, cuban motion and weight transfer are big interests for me as well (reason as to why i've "resurrected" this thread) and as a salsera, I’d like some more inputs from other salseros.... perhaps it’s a boring topic for some since it’s being talked about to death?!? :roll: I can only speculate...

[Angelo]

This is interesting... I wonder why but it seems like more ballroom dancers tend to show interest or post when topics related to the “hip movement” come up.. Like dTas, cuban motion and weight transfer are big interests for me as well (reason as to why i've "resurrected" this thread) and as a salsera, I’d like some more inputs from other salseros.... perhaps it’s a boring topic for some since it’s being talked about to death?!? :roll: I can only speculate...

While I am what you referred to as a "ballroom dancer" I also take Salsa lessons and salsa dance socially (Am I a salsero?). The biomechanics of the basic hip motion and the weight transfer do not really seem that different to me. Perhaps some others who do both will be willing to offer their opinions as well.