If there is a time when your body weight can be said to be divided between the feet, it would occur as you are in the process of shifting from primary support by one foot to primary support by the other, and you might say it would be at the halfway point in time. But in terms of distance from the feet, it matters who you ask. Some will argue your body would be halfway in between your feet. But most high level teachers seem to prefer that the body be closer to the front foot at this point regardless of which direction you are moving in. This is logical because there is much less free space to have a foot in front of the body than there is space behind the body.

As for phrasing, no, 8 bars is most common but there are other possibilites. You might find something with 12, and also there could be extra measures (probably pairs) inserted between larger phrase groups. Good swing dancers develop an ability to quickly hear where a phrase is going from the harmonic progression and thus know how much time remains until the end; ballroomers should copy this.

Thanks for your response . Now, "moving foot" will keep in my mind instead of " free foot " because of that increasing body weight will distribute to my moving foot to support upper body right on it during the process. which will help me to maitian my side line and frame .
Ylchen

I would personally try to keep the moving foot as free of weight as possible. I think support comes from the extreme edge of the standing foot in the direction of motion, then there may actually be a brief moment when the body weight is not fully supported before substantial weight arrives in the moving foot.

My instructor had pressed my pelvis down heavily when I walked backward . He said my moving leg just like a leg of cockroach : I had weakened posterior compartment of thigh to support my body weight , I told him : I want to keep more body weight on my standing to generate more power before the moment the new standing leg replaced it .Any way , when I have better leg action, I will compare the two styles. There was a voice told me that I needed less body weight when the leg is swinging.

Yichen 1. You recieved some exellent advice there. What I would point out here is, if you watch the ladies feet going backwards you will see she goes to the very tip of the toe. Most only manage to go to the ball of the foot. To do this the supporting knee will bend foreward to your partner allowing you to go to the tip of the toe. The best way to practise this is with your partner in an extended hold in line. Or right hand to right hand ( not in line )
Go up and down the floor forward and then backwards. What I try to do when going foreward is to synchronise the lowering of my toe on a heel lead with the ladies lowering of her heel. I try to do this in all the modern dances.

Hi,
*** What I try to do when going foreward is to synchronise the lowering of my toe on a heel lead with the ladies lowering of her heel. I try to do this in all the modern dances. ***

On a man's fourwood walk the lady only lowers her back heel when the man's weight travels over the ball of his foot. That is if they remain in contact with each other. This means the man always lowers first and not together.

Hello, Dancefad,
I imagined a series pictures as you described. How can a lady feel his partner is beeing on his ball ?I wonder.
In my kindergarten level , I concentrated to my maximum stride when going backward and kept my head within my own window as much as I can with center weight toward my teacher .
I also have a stupid idea : is it right when I am going backward down the LOD, my teacher is following me ? If so, I am controlling his stride ?
I noted some female student slided off her own trace and had hip lean back caused by her teacher's too big forward step in waltz natural turn.
The teacher explained : I wanted to keep my own level. Several months past, the female student got more strong lower limbs muscle and skill but still danced strange shape in waltz natural turn.
Gracias,
ylchen

*** How can a lady feel his partner is beeing on his ball ?***

Re-reading my post. I should have explained that the lady's lowering is caused by the man's body weight and not that the lady will lower her heel independently. If you don't mind me saying but for a beginner, you certainly worry too much.

No, she worries as much as she should because her teacher sounds fairly incompetent.

Thanks Anon. I had to laugh when I read that.