Stepping and Swinging in Standard

[dancingirldancing]

I have noticed that in standard I have a tendency to leave my body behind when I am stepping forward.

Now, how do I obtain the body swing which I guess is the momentum to enable me to step further ?

I feel like I need to move my feet and my body in unison or in one force rather than feeling like I move my feet then my body follows.

I think I find it really hard to obtain swing without pointing my toes (ex ballet/jazz dancer). So I fumble with my feet (below the ankle).

I know I have to soften my ankle then graze the floor with my heels.

I am assuming that the tip of my dance shoes is going to be pointing up ?

Now, how do I land my moving foot smoothly and not with a thud ? And when ?

Does body swinging in ballroom similar in feeling to doing grand jette except that your feet is grounded ?

Funnily, going backwards is much easy for me

Now you guys is going to think that I am really messed up !

 

[Some guy]

Sounds like you might be trying to step forward without getting off the back foot first. As it's been discussed in another thread, use the standing leg as much as possible to initiate the movement and "push off" of in a controlled manner. However, don't "leave" the standing leg until you have smoothly transferred weight to your front leg. It makes sense that going backwards is easier because you might already be doing all this naturally: using your standing leg to initiate the backward movement and smoothly transferring your weight to the back leg at the correct moment.

Like they said in yet another thread, think of it as exaggerated "walking". When walking, we rarely leave our bodies behind and step forward. It's our standing leg that puts our bodies onto our front leg.

 

[Warren J. Dew]

I feel like I need to move my feet and my body in unison or in one force rather than feeling like I move my feet then my body follows.

Moving them in unison is a big part of it. Just let it happen.

 

[waltzguy]

I agree, just do it, just walk. I'm serious. That's what I tell myself, and my am partner.

 

[Chris Stratton]

Move your body and let it bring your feet along.

 

[btfgus]

Move your body and let it bring your feet along.

This statement proves simplicity is best.

However I like to use the word "fall". Leave your feet where they are and allow your body to fall forward. The leg and foot will naturally react and catch you. This stops us fighting the mighty force of gravity, use it to achieve swing.

 

[Chris Stratton]

However I like to use the word "fall". Leave your feet where they are and allow your body to fall forward. The leg and foot will naturally react and catch you. This stops us fighting the mighty force of gravity, use it to achieve swing.

Yes, this is true though we may have to be cautious about how we describe the "fall".
We need to be careful to be clear that we are talking about a path of movement, and not aiming the chest at the floor. And the path of movement needs to be one that slips just under the partner, not landing on top of her.

 

[Josh]

However I like to use the word "fall". Leave your feet where they are and allow your body to fall forward. The leg and foot will naturally react and catch you. This stops us fighting the mighty force of gravity, use it to achieve swing.

Agree 100%--just a note to the OP that when "falling" forward the front leg should have extended and be fully straight to catch the weight and then soften to accept the weight; if it's bent when weight arrives onto it, it will not be able to contain the swing into it and balance will be fully lost. This is true even for tango.

 

[Angel HI]

I am very serious about this. Take an Argentine tango lesson. The movement of the walk will set the foundation for everything else in smooth dance. Amer tango could do it, but won't b/c it is often just too often misunderstood and taught poorly.

 

[madmaximus]

...

Now, how do I land my moving foot smoothly and not with a thud ? And when ?

... mentioned this in another thread somewhere...

The key to avoiding a thud is keeping the toe as close to the floor as your weight is transferred to the heel (no higher than 2 inches or so depending on height/shoe size)...






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