Why is it so much easier to lower moving back than moving forward?

Hi Dave
I suspect it's to do with the meachanical design of the lower leg and foot!
Moving back and lowering, the lower leg can continue to travel in the same direction as the foot lowers, whereas going forward, the pivoting action on the ball of the foot makes the lower leg actually rotate backward. So a knee bend is essential. Of course knees are softened on lowering, but i suspect that this change of 'alignment' of the lower leg makes the knee softening more complex when moving forward.

It should not be any more difficult lowering when going forward than going backwards. If the problem comes after a Progresive Chasse in the Waltz. This is caused by the last step being taken to the side, and not to the side and slightly forward. Otherwise your trying to go in two different directions at the same time. Do this long enough and you will injure your knee joint. In other words the foot and the knee are pointing in the direction you are moving to, which should allow the lowering without any problem. On another thread the question was being asked about a Curving Three step after a Double Reverse Spin. The entry into the Three Step should be straight. Curve that first step and your foot and knee will be in an awkward position. Most of this is a follow up to bad technique when you were first taught. Golden Rule, turn at the end of the step and not the beginning. This becomes even more important in Latin. Never turn into the step only at the end of the step. Spot Turn or whatever.

Hi onlooker
A couple of things.
First, i agree with Dave that it is more difficult lowering 'nicely' when going forward.
Second, would you expand on what you mean by "never turn into the step, only at the end"? Does this mean that any rotation movements during a short sequence of steps must be suspended at the start of each step? I'm a little confused

Phil. Turn at the end of a step and not into the step. Best explained in Latin the Rumba, A Spot Turn is a Forward Walk Turning. The turn is at the end of the Forward Walk and not at the beginning. In Modern if you look at the charts Waltz Natural Turn you will see that the turn is at the end of the first step. CBM yes but the actual step is straight. So if i were to do a Curving Three Step after a Double Reverse Spin my LF would step straight on whatever alignament i am on , most likely diag to centre or LOD. Then turn. Otherwise i might look as if i am walking around a dinner plate in a silly little circle. On this site go to Natural Turn Waltz step one. Or the first step at the end of the Progressive Chasse. Or the last step LF at the end of the Foxtrot Reverse Turn Feather Finish. It can be clearly seen

Actually lowering to go forward is more complicated, for a very good reason. And I don't mean which way the knee bends, but rather the footwork. If you had your entire static bodyweight in your toe, and then lowered to your heel, you would actually have to move backwards most of a foot length. Going backwards this is fine, but going forwards? Do you want your weight to arrive and then move backwards a bit as you lower? No - which means that going forwards you can't let your entire weight arrive before you start lowering. That doesn't mean you lower while you still have weight on your other foot, but it does mean that you lower while your weight is partially unsupported - if you were already stable over the new foot, your weight would be in the toe and you would have to send it backwards to ever get it in your heel.

When you have your feet closed while up, you probably do have your weight completely in the toe of the arriving foot. But since the body isn't really moving much there - it's nearly stopped, the backwards movement of your weight as you lower isn't as much of a problem as when you lower from having your feet apart, say while stepping out of a chasse.

Also, some teachers will insist that you arrive and then lower. This is not the ultimate goal in timing, however it does help build your foot strength if you dance that way for a while. It just comes at the cost of having to break some of those habits to retime your lowering before you can dance well.

Than you for the tips. The main problem is lowering after the DRS into a telemark. I want to keep the momentum going. Making sure that I lower on the instep and not the heel does help as the body posture has to be kept forward.

It was mentioned earlier that we should lower at the tail end of the back foot before weight arrives on new standing foot?

You do need to momentarily have your weight in the heel of the right foot before you push out into the telemark.
Realize that the second half of the DRS is not a progressive action for the man - the lady's taking two steps past you while you spin on your right ball of foot, then lower. Think of keeping your partner's motion continuous, not yours. Also make sure she's getting the chance to release the toe of her left foot as she pushed her body back towards the heel turn of the telemark (and also the heel turn of the DRS itself). You don't want her falling into the heel turns.

Yes. This is what she has a hibit of doing ,falling into the next step at the end of THe DRS,so I will put you advice into action.Thanks