Quote:
Originally posted by Beowulf1970
Example. 5,6,7,8, and step back... I'm now miles away from my partner and arms stretched as far as they'll go |
Start a bit closer. Take a smaller step. And don't push your partner so far away.
Quote:
| . , spin spin, and into a basket. arms ok, but now, I have to twist to the left and to the right, I either stand on my own toes or worse still , the heels of my dance partner! |
The way the basket is taught you twist away from each other. Although this makes it feel a bit uncomfortable in the lead (because the man is twisting one way, but leading his partner the other way) it does make it very difficult to step on your partner's feet on the first twist. On the second twist don't overdo it. Just get back to the position you started in. Don't twist into your partner.
Quote:
| If footwork isn't important, how then do you stop it interfering with the dance moves? If footwork is precisely laid down in the steps (like Salsa I assume) then you know where your feet and those of your partner's are to be at any time. |
The only thing important about your feet is that you need them to stand up, and to move. The only time you have to worry about stepping on your partner is when you get really close. So footwork is very important in Ballroom dancing then you are contantly moving when you are close to your partner. But in Ceroc there is generally several inches of separation between you and your partner, and usually one of you is not moving too much. So the only thing you have to worry about is standing up.
(Salsa uses footwork as a way of creating rhythm in the body and the movement. Same with West Coast Swing. And when you have footwork, then you can do certain moves that rely on your partner being on a particular foot.)
David