2965  Leaning Forward?

Date: Fri, 5 Nov 2004 12:54:57 -0600
From: Leonard Kunkel <image10@SWBELL.NET>
Subject: Leaning Forward?

I would like to clear up the idea about leaning forward.

When I was beginning tango years ago an instructor kept saying for the
class to lean forward.
I witnessed students trying to go forward to the point of holding
themselves from falling with their toes (speaking of men) There was
some, as I remember, freakish sights. Guys were stumbling around. This
leaning forward encouraged legs to be stiff and knees locked.

The correct instruction I have found is to instruct dancers to be on the
balls of your feet. Your upper body is centered over the balls of the
foot. The heel should rest on the floor but without weight in the heels.
There should be flex in the knees. (And yes there are times when your
weight will be in your heels but that is a small percentage of the time
depending on the movement)

This does give the impression of leaning forward as you can witness by
looking at yourself in the mirror. But this is not the same as saying
lean forward. A better way to instruct is to say shift your weight
forward over the balls of the foot. Such a stance is solid but then also
giving you the ability to instantly take that next step or immediately
pivot.

Have a tangorific day!
Leonardo K.

Date: Fri, 5 Nov 2004 14:32:13 -0500
From: John Gleeson <john.gleeson@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Leaning Forward

Leonard Kunkel writes:" I would like to clear up the idea about leaning forward. A better way to instruct is to say shift your weight
forward over the balls of the foot. Such a stance is solid but then also
giving you the ability to instantly take that next step or immediately
pivot."
Leonard is, of course, right.

In mentioning Ron Gursky's talent I used it simply to explain that it is
possible to lean forward while still keeping the feet flat on the ground.

Ron, of course, never dances that way. He demonstrated it during
a discussion of exercises in order to emphasise the importance of
developing good calf muscles. I would never suggest that someone
should aspire to emulate Ron's talent in order to dance that way!

He, as I, leans forward, as Leonard mentions above, just enough so
that the weight is centred over the balls of the feet, as opposed to the
heels or even centred on the flat of the feet.

John G.