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The Forward Walk
The following is an analysis of a forward walk. To improve your own dancing,
work slowly through the phases of the walking action as a daily warm-up exercise.
STARTING POSITION
Begin standing upright with feet together.
1. COMPRESSION
While flexing the knees, begin to move the body weight toward the ball
of the standing foot. At the same time, allow the free leg to swing forward
from the hip, causing the free foot to move forward. When the free foot first
begins to move, the whole foot will be in contact with the floor.
2. EXTENSION
Continue to swing the moving leg forward from the hip. Release the toe
of the moving foot, but keep the heel in contact with the floor. The body
weight should continue to move forward between the feet, with the heel of
the standing foot beginning to release from the floor.
3. MID-STRIDE
At the full extent of the stride, the body weight is equally divided between
the feet, with the forward toe and back heel up. At this point, the moving
foot will become the standing foot (and vice-versa).
4. FOLLOW-THROUGH
As the body weight approaches the new standing foot, the toe may now lower to
the floor. The new moving foot follows closely behind, with the heel now lowering
towards the floor, and both knees flexing equally and simultaneously throughout.
Click the Quicktime icon to view
a video clip of the forward walk.
Click the icon to view the analysis
of the backward walk.
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