precision in latin dancing across a variety of floors

[Terpsichorean Clod]

Picking up stuff with your feet partly depends on the size/length of your toes. If you have short, round toes, you just won't have as much of a gripping surface when they bend down. Everyone in my family has long, flexible toes and I grew up thinking it was just normal to pick stuff up, open low drawers, etc. with your feet!

Is that a useful attribute in dancing? Maybe you should offer your genes to delamusica's program to incubate the future U.S. youth champions.

 

[waltzgirl]

Is that a useful attribute in dancing? Maybe you should offer your genes to delamusica's program to incubate the future U.S. youth champions.

lol But I don't think it's a particular help, my feet are pretty flat and overly flexible, not too great for dancing.

BTW, good to see you around again. You were on vacation?

 

[Terpsichorean Clod]

Thanks, waltzgirl! An unwanted vacation from DF involving work...and Harry Potter (had to reread books 1-6 before starting 7)

 

[meow]

Toes are important but using your centre and control is what makes spinning and stopping dead in a perfect line possible. Floors vary everywhere, which you cannot control. What you can control with loads of work and practice is you. Some dancers say 'I've never been able to do that" which comes across like "I can't do that". The way to think is "I will work to be able to do that". And then keep at it. Spinning and stopping dead, especially using either leg, is hard work but achievable. Practice on your kitchen floor, on carpet, lino, studio floors, even concrete. Once you are able to perform the moves on any surface, the floor at a comp is the easiest.