what are you talking about. it doesn't make any sense.

ABC Dancing. Once I was told in the Waltz to draw my toes together on every closure . Then I was told to forget the feet but think of drawing the knees together. The knees being the first to arrive and the feet never tight together, I find that if my heels arrive, touch, I am in a much stronger position on which I can stop and stay there balanced for as many bars of music that I wish. To stop in training on three, stay for another three, move and repeat, do this where it is practical right through your routine. This incidentally is pretty standard practise. The same can be done in the Foxtrot by stopping on every fourth beat, which should be the balance point. I hope now this is clearer.

If you stop ANYWHERE in travelling foxtrot you will develop a very bad habit and a severe misunderstanding of the dance. Waltz has pauses when up - foxtrot ordinarily doesn't.

Anonymous. There are actually two balance points on a Feather Step. One is on beat 4 the other is on and, which is neutral. It even has a name called Triangular balance. The idea is if you are unable to balance right there stopping on four, how can you expect to be balanced when dancing. Momentum is no substitute for balance. Beleive me when I say that this technique is also used in the Quickstep.

The reason why the knees are involved is du to the Sway effect. Sway starts from the knees. Using your heels is a bad habit you are developing here and is definetly not good technique.
Now being balanced involves a good posture and being aware of your center, making sure your flexed knees, feet and your center are all in a straight line thus keeoing you balanced. Your way of using the heels to balance you is incorrect.

ABC, you are wrong. If "making sure your flexed knees, feet and your center are all in a straight line" then it is impossible to have sway and be balanced at the same time. To have sway and be balanced, these parts would have to align on a curve, with your knees not between your center and your feet but offset somewhat.

Sway starts from the feet and ankles of course.

Don,
There are 2 parts to my note 1) Sway and 2) Being Balanced. Nowhere did i mention that the 2 are related.
I think you need to get your concepts right here. Sway starts from the knees and not the feet.

ABC. I never mentioned sway.That is a different story. What I am saying is we are all built slightly, in some cases different. My suggestion is with the feet together rise on the toes. If you can stay there that's fine. If you are at all off balance then that is how you will be when dancing.So some will find the knees touch first. Others will close completely. And some might find that the fraction of an inch used to bring the sides of the shoe at the heal, so they are just touching, is for them better. We are still as high as possible on the toes and in control. There is also the natural turn out of the feet which should be taken into consideration as well.

There will not be any natural turn out of the feet in BALLROOM technique. If there is, you are using ballet or latin technique in error.

Anonymous. Hey . Stop and have look down at your feet. You could be in for a shock as well as many others.