Does anybody else think the use of the word body flight is a dangerouse word to use especially with the inexperienced dancer. The two dances where we fly are Quickstep which is roughly twice the speed of Foxtrot, and the V. Waltz which is also roughly twice the speed of the Slow Waltz. Without saying we must flight the body on the faster dances. If we are going to keep time we most likely will get a bit of a move on without being told anything about body flight. But in an ordinary Waltz and Foxtrot using the whole of the foot and the flexing of the knees is all thats needed. And stay on the standing foot longer. Thats one of John Wood's favourite sayings.

Body flight doesn't imply speed, though for inexperienced dancers it may be interpreted that way, as you say.A word is needed to describe the motion of the body in response to the leg- and foot- work. Body motion doesn't sound so exciting!

It was beneficial for us that they stressed bodyflight early on for V Waltz. It helped us to overcome the tendency, to spin around a lot without moving down the floor at a proper rate. I really like not getting dizzy anymore .

In Waltz and Foxtrot, I think it would be have been beneficial, if our instructors had emphasized bodyflight earlier on. When they finally did, it helped our dancing significantly.

"But in an ordinary Waltz and Foxtrot using the whole of the foot and the flexing of the knees is all thats needed."

Body flight is even more critical in the slow dances, since there is more time to fill up you cannot accomplish it all staying on your feet. In the fast dances, the steps are close enough together that dancing without flight is unlikely to occur.

Tell me what happens to the lady who is going backwards if she tries to use body flight. In my opinion if body flight is used by the man the weight must stay in the middle untill the front foot is in place. Then body flight is simply a push off the back foot, which we should be doing anyway.

"Tell me what happens to the lady who is going backwards if she tries to use body flight. In my opinion if body flight is used by the man the weight must stay in the middle untill the front foot is in place. Then body flight is simply a push off the back foot, which we should be doing anyway."

Actually, no. Body flight is what carries the body weight well ahead of the standing leg while the moving leg is still moving. This then becomes what carries the body right on past the newly arrived leg, WITHOUT further push. If you need further push to get over or past the leg, you are not dancing with body flight (you are dancing tango)