But it's ok for that in latin?

To have your foot pointing in front of you? Yes, that's okay in latin if your partner isn't right there to collide with it.

To arch your back - no, that's not okay in latin either. You need to keep your center toned there even more, since the open positions invite more scruitiny of each body.

Ditto for american smooth. Though it's an interesting question in smooth, if you are doing something resembling a basic closed figure in open position, if you should reach your feet ahead more, or maintain the same leg timing required for closed position.

Also, in terms of latin lazy belly syndrome looks far worse in a skimpy two piece costume.

Anonymous. Actually in a Foreward Rumba Walk You are supposed to get to the point of imbalance, and then catch yourself with your moving foot. Wally Laird page 23.

Interesting... if only someone in authority had written that for standard (where it is even more true), we could be free of a lot of the present confusion.

However it remains true that you can do a static pointing action of the leg in latin which there would not be room for in standard - even if you don't choose to use this during the cycle of a forward rumba walk.

I love this topic related to basics.
Indeed , I am so confused : sometimes I was told to place my foot first then add my bodyweight over it for keeping contact with the partner and avoiding back back ;sometimes I was asked to move my bodyweight together with the moving foot for the fast music rhythm.
I had tried to keep my body over my moving leg and send them out from my stnading leg ,at the moment of heel/ball position, the body must on the half way of stride.It is natural as our walking...
I have another question, in Tango, should we lift a little bit our toes when we moving foreward and backward ? What is cat walk?
Yiling Chen

Yichen 1. If you go to the point of imbalance and then catch your weight you will be able to turn your back foot out. If at that point you stopped and drew your feet together you should be in a Latin Crossed position. Both front and back foot turned out. This excercise is to check your feet and to see if they are technicaly in the right position. As one of those super coaches, Lorrain said . "It's your back foot that I am looking at. Use your back foot, we don't want to see a foot just dangling on the end of a leg. Get some tone into it. Work it. Watch also as you come into a neutral position. The feet will be almost together and the instep about as high as you can get it. If you look down you will see that your knee is ahead of your body. If it isn't your foot is not under the body. Or your instep is not high enough. One more thing. In the Rumba the hips never stop moving. The feet can but not the hips.

You meant the lady's left hand and man's right hand are the decoration?
How about the contact point in PP ?
Would you please describe the different in Tango ?
Thanks.
Yiling Chen

Yichen 1. This is very hard to explain in writing. Before you go any further check the setup position between you and your partner. In the Waltz or the other swing dances , the ladies armpit is on the mans wrist. In the Tango the ladies armpit is further up onto the man's forearm. This results in the man's right hand being further around the lady. Before this happens check you feet. You are probably aware that the right toe is level with the instep of the left foot. This very often is missed, and that is, a very slight turn anticlockwise WITH THE BODY ONLY which brings your right knee into the left.Now you are ready to walk catlike. Promenade Position. On a Link the lady can turn her right toe inwards, then let it happen naturaly . The ladies hip will roll slightly around the man. At this moment the feet are still in a closed position. The heads are both looking left and right respectively. From here with the mans left foot( open one floorboard ) to allow the right feet to step through on a straight line. Very important , the man because of the position between you goes slightly first. Catlike . What better than to watch a cat as it is stalking. See how it lifts the paw slightly and then places it down. By your writing I think you are on the right track. Remind me never to try writing book on dancing.

Laughing.Dear Don, sory to remind your never to writing book on dancing. But I got a lot of pertinent information from your good instruction. Gracias!
ylchen

Anonymous. I've come back to this one. I have been watching a winners honour dance, the Waltz The comp was World Amateur. The winner was Mirko Gozzoli and Alessia Betti who are now professional. I am watching it now ,The man's front foot is way ahead of the body. The knee is bent, and the thigh is getting very near to being horizontal to the floor the rear foot is way behind. This same action I have on an instruction tape by John Wood. The lady is not hanging over the back, but does go further if the movement requires it. That I believe is affectionately called letting the lady breath where it is required. To cut a long story short I was asked , after watching the lecturer complete a heel lead . What was the length of the step. I thought it was about 24 inches. No . the front foot only moved about 7 inches then stood still, the back foot then pushed the front to what I thought was 24 inches. He added think of a bench vice where only one set of jaws moves. If we look at the technique book it is nothing like this in the description of a Foreward Walk. But it is all very interesting. One more thing , these guys are obviously very strong in the legs. If I got down that far I would never get up again.