"One thing at a time now. On the 12th December You said that the body goes first. And the legs catch up."
Sounds like something I would say. Sounds like something I've heard from world champion coaches, too.
"Quote. There is nothing wrong with having the feet well ahead of the body as long as they do not move too quickly into position. A good general ratio is 2 to 1. That is to say the feet move approximately twice as fast as the body. If you think of trying to stay approximately half way between your feet, and you do not move the foot without the body, you' ll be reasonably correct."
Sadly mistaken... okay for beginners for a few months, but not ultimately workable for championship quality dancing, because it's simply not true. Human anatomy (the location of our ankle at the back of the foot rather than the middle, making our back leg effectively longer) means that we will generally be closer to the front foot than to the rear.
"Have you ever taken a look at a sprinter. That body is flying but not the way you have described."
Try looking at a race walker. Body is indeed much closer to the front foot than to the rear - almost over the front foot in fact.
"I generaly feel that people who take short strides are suffering from one of a couple problems. 1. The moving foot not getting ahead of the body. 2. Lack of foot pressure from the standing foot. ( That' s you from what you have described )."
More, the lack of projecting the body ahead of the standing foot into empty space.
"If you get the feeling of falling from your moving foot, ( does that sound familiar to you ), you have probably not applied enough pressure to the floor to drive yourself forward."
You need to use this pressure (and simple willingness to drift through your foot, too) to project your body ahead of your standing foot, before you put any thought into moving your moving foot.
"From another source. When stepping forward think of the back foot expanding the front foot like a vice where one part of the jaw remains still. When stepping forward this gives a strong look. Length of step is governed by the back foot. Standing leg is the master."
Almost the right idea. - BUT, it would be much better if the other jaw is initially the BODY and only later the foot. You don't dance your feet - you do DANCE YOUR BODY, using your feet.
"Never swing on a backward step.. Never swing at the same time as partner."
Wrong, wrong, WRONG. In many situations you must swing a backwards step, and swing at the same time as your partner. Would you should not do is swing too soon. And you must never swing by TILTING THE PELVIS RELATIVE TO THE TRUNK. A leg swing is either going to be leg only (in the hip socket), or whole-body. It is never leg+pelvis without body, as that would pull your hips away from your partner. Clearly, this is what the person giving advice waws warning against... but they mis-stated the warning.
"Here is an interesting one. Your bottom swings not your leg."
In some situations the leg does swing alone, but yes, the big swings are whole body. Make sure your pelvise doesn't swing without your body - the swing must extend all the way up and include everything. But yes, you will feel it down there, as that's where the weight is.
"One last thing. When we walk we lift our heel from the floor. When we dance we keep contact. There is another of your big Basic mistakes."
It's true that the moving foot is used differently, but it makes very little difference. If you are relying on your moving foot to support your body, you have not aimed your movements very well!
"Also there is a neutral position at the end of step 3. where for an instant obviously we are square."
No, there is no single such point for the whole body. Each part of the body will go through a neutral at some point when moving between opposites, but NOT ALL AT THE SAME TIME. You really must stop this persistent IGNORANCE - or admit that you are content to dance with BEGINNER APPROXIMATIONS!
"As we step forward for the first of the Reverse, for want of a better word there is a dipping of the left shoulder."
I sure hope not!!!!
"We have learnt a lot today haven' t we. Thanks to three world class teachers and one writter."
Sorry, you have IGNORED A LOT OF REALITY TODAY.
