phil.samways. Maybe it is more a woman's issue, because we release our knees only fractions of inches when we are walking (on high heels - on which we also dance). Did you ever see a man trying his first steps on high heels and releasing/bending the knees. It looks really funny as it bounces from knee to knee.

Ballroom lady. S Q Q has found a way of putting the video clips in slow motion. Can you tell me in the Waltz if they lower verticley and are down on three.
Then go to a Feather Step and again tell me what you see. Do you see imbalance and falling onto the step. Please look and lean.Do you at anytime see the body in front of the moving leg.

Hi Ballroomlady
normally, i'd say i'd try it out and see what happens. But in this case, i think i'll take your word for it

Hi Don!

The important thing to me is, that the hipline is never ever broken. I tried this yesterday during my training and I found, that anonymous should be right - if you keep the hips perfect vertical while lowering, your body automatically will be placed vertically over your bended knee (when you roll your weight through the complete foot from heel to toe - even when only walking)and there is a point of no return otherwise you have to sit down over the foot and break the hipline (I hope you know what I mean). It is not the kind of falling like a cup of coffee from a table but nevertheless there is a point where you have to place your free leg under your body otherwise you would almost fall. When I tried this I found it great because it allows you an incredible movement without effort as you can use your bodyweight instead of pushing hard with your standing leg. It feels a bit like being in a half pipe with a skateboard or something like that. The only real problem here is the timing.

Ballroomlady
what exactly do you mean by the 'hipline'?. i'm assuming you mean a line from the top of the pelvic bone to the hip joint itself
I can't follow the point you're making. You can go from a standing position to a sitting position and keep this line 'vertical'. (those with serious back injuries have to do this) Not sure what 'unbroken' means in this context

phil. My problem now is that I do not know what the pelvic bone is (I will have to look this up). What I mean is that your "bottom" is not in a sitting position but keeps in the position like when you are standing. I mean that knees, upper legs, hips, belly, shoulder build one line. (no zig-zag)
Is it clearer now? ( I am not sure)

Ballroomlady. This has been on several times before. Get a strip of paper. It can be 6 inches long or a foot long. The result will be exactly the same every time. Width. about the size of a shopper docket, or as wide as an envelope , an envelope will do. If it is a shopper docket have it side on with the shopping list to your left. Or put a mark on a piece of paper to show the front. From the bottom , about an inch fold it to the right. From there about twice the distance. Fold to your left. ( the crease is to the left ).And then above that at the same distance fold to your right.Above that last fold is your body . At the bottom is your feet. With the first grease which is to your on your right side, and the upper body verticle. Compress untill the feet are at an angle of 45 degrees along with the shin. The thigh will automaticly be at the same angle. Maybe SQQ might be able to tell us. Is this a natural law in operation here. To make it easier ( most people do not like a heap of indsructions ).
From the front. Fold Right. Then Fold Left. Then Fold Right. Even when the heel touches the floor the body stays verticle and is over the REAR of the supposed feet. Now make it sit. I hope that is not you. Now send it forward. Do you think that is correct. Take this model to your teacher and if they don't know already . Show them a lesson in natural movement..

"Compress untill the feet are at an angle of 45 degrees along with the shin. The thigh will automaticly be at the same angle."

No - that is your mistake. Your thigh should remain relatively vertical as the knee bends. This is what ballroomlady seems to have just disovered - how to do it, and how much it helps.

"Even when the heel touches the floor the body stays verticle and is over the REAR of the supposed feet."

But after the heel touches the floor, as the knee bends, the body moves forward to stay vertically aligned over the advancing knee. It does not stay balanced over the foot, it advanced beyond the foot.

This is, after all the very same position that has been prominently on display in picture two of the forward walk for the entire duration of our argument... knee forward of the foot, body aligned over the knee, well forward of the foot and thus OFF BALANCE.