Heels on back steps - up or down?

[mop6686]

I am a trained ballroom dancer and in Mambo and any dance involving cuban motion, I have been taught to always put my heels down on back steps, as this is the way to achieve the greatest hip motion.

I was observing a Salsa class the other day and the teacher (who is a excellent and well respected Salsa competitor) said that the heel never goes down during the back basic and if I heard correctly, it the never goes down when you go back even on a normal basic.

Is this a style thing? A Salsa thing?

 

[Josh]

I am a trained ballroom dancer and in Mambo and any dance involving cuban motion, I have been taught to always put my heels down on back steps, as this is the way to achieve the greatest hip motion.

I was observing a Salsa class the other day and the teacher (who is a excellent and well respected Salsa competitor) said that the heel never goes down during the back basic and if I heard correctly, it the never goes down when you go back even on a normal basic.

Is this a style thing? A Salsa thing?

Street salsa dancers (i.e. non-"trained") don't use hip action based on bending and straightening of legs as in rhythm mambo. If the heel lowered to the floor, it would cause the leg to straighten. So, I would guess this is the reason he or she told you this.

 

[tangotime]

, said that the heel never goes down during the back basic and if I heard correctly, it the never goes down when you go back even on a normal basic.

This argument went on for weeks on Salsa Forums. My posit was this... the Heel DOES lower, BUT only "kisses" the floor .. The major problem with non lowering types, is the tendency to stay on the ball of the foot thruout the dance and never get "grounded ".

Back breaks are all about Poise; if the body is correctly positioned, then the lowering will not have an adverse effect on balance.

The prime reason many of the salsa " teachers ?", advocated the non lowering was to prevent students from becoming back-weighted .

Many teachers( and performers ) in the genre are un trained dancers, with little or no knowledge of techn. or theory ( go to Salsa Forums you will see what I mean ).Many sincerely believe that, ANY form of structure is counter productive to the dance .

 

[salsator2008]

I'm not an expert. But I'd say that it really depends on the music at the moment. Generally in Cuban salsa the heel doesn't touch the ground even in the basic Guapea steps. That will slow you down if your plant your foot full flat on the ground. However, if you want to do something funky like Break back and keep your left foot on the ground for 1,2,3, while completing the 2,3, beat with some body movement then resuming the weight of 5,6,7 on your right foot that could work also.

 

[opendoor]

My posit was this... the Heel DOES lower, BUT only "kisses" the floor .. The major problem with non lowering types, is the tendency to stay on the ball of the foot thruout the dance and never get "grounded "...

When dancing with women freshly crossing from Salsa to Tango I alway hear, that the backwards projecting and dropping almost in the last moment in tango was the major difference in stepping technique between these dances. Hence I concluded, most salseras will usually drop down the heel.

 

[tangotime]

I am a trained ballroom dancer and in Mambo and any dance involving cuban motion, I have been taught to always put my heels down on back steps, as this is the way to achieve the greatest hip motion.

I was observing a Salsa class the other day and the teacher (who is a excellent and well respected Salsa competitor) said that the heel never goes down during the back basic and if I heard correctly, it the never goes down when you go back even on a normal basic.

Is this a style thing? A Salsa thing?

Where did you learn your salsa ?

 

[tangotime]

When dancing with women freshly crossing from Salsa to Tango I alway hear, that the backwards projecting and dropping almost in the last moment in tango was the major difference in stepping technique between these dances.

Hence I concluded, most salseras will usually drop down the heel.

Right on !!

 

[tangotime]

I'm not an expert. But I'd say that it really depends on the music at the moment.

Generally in Cuban salsa the heel doesn't touch the ground even in the basic Guapea steps. That will slow you down if your plant your foot full flat on the ground.


.

On the contrary, one needs to be grounded in faster movement the same as a slower paced song .

And, the common mistake here is the relevance of the "feet ".. its the BODY speed that enables transitions .