Does anybody else think the use of the word body flight is a dangerouse word to use especially with the inexperienced dancer. The two dances where we fly are Quickstep which is roughly twice the speed of Foxtrot, and the V. Waltz which is also roughly twice the speed of the Slow Waltz. Without saying we must flight the body on the faster dances. If we are going to keep time we most likely will get a bit of a move on without being told anything about body flight. But in an ordinary Waltz and Foxtrot using the whole of the foot and the flexing of the knees is all thats needed. And stay on the standing foot longer. Thats one of John Wood's favourite sayings.

Body flight doesn't imply speed, though for inexperienced dancers it may be interpreted that way, as you say.A word is needed to describe the motion of the body in response to the leg- and foot- work. Body motion doesn't sound so exciting!

It was beneficial for us that they stressed bodyflight early on for V Waltz. It helped us to overcome the tendency, to spin around a lot without moving down the floor at a proper rate. I really like not getting dizzy anymore .

In Waltz and Foxtrot, I think it would be have been beneficial, if our instructors had emphasized bodyflight earlier on. When they finally did, it helped our dancing significantly.

"But in an ordinary Waltz and Foxtrot using the whole of the foot and the flexing of the knees is all thats needed."

Body flight is even more critical in the slow dances, since there is more time to fill up you cannot accomplish it all staying on your feet. In the fast dances, the steps are close enough together that dancing without flight is unlikely to occur.

Tell me what happens to the lady who is going backwards if she tries to use body flight. In my opinion if body flight is used by the man the weight must stay in the middle untill the front foot is in place. Then body flight is simply a push off the back foot, which we should be doing anyway.

"Tell me what happens to the lady who is going backwards if she tries to use body flight. In my opinion if body flight is used by the man the weight must stay in the middle untill the front foot is in place. Then body flight is simply a push off the back foot, which we should be doing anyway."

Actually, no. Body flight is what carries the body weight well ahead of the standing leg while the moving leg is still moving. This then becomes what carries the body right on past the newly arrived leg, WITHOUT further push. If you need further push to get over or past the leg, you are not dancing with body flight (you are dancing tango)

Suomynona. I still dont see how the body weight can be as you say.
If my weight is forward in relation to my standing foot and then is going to move ahead of my new standing foot. To me it would indicate that I am falling and catching. I have an old shot of Peter Eggleton and partner. In it he is at full stride, the weight is right in the middle. The front foot is on the heel. The back foot is on the toe, the lady the same. There was a question. Is he going forward or backwards.There was no way of knowing. The positions are identical. If I go to a Latin DVD. Slavik says that between one foot and the other in a step there are thousands of body positions. It would seem to me that a person may play with the speed of where along that line they are at any certain time. But with Eggleton if there is body flight it will be from that centered position. The front or the back leg arrive way before the body. And with the person going backwards, how can it be any other way and to keep a good posture. Personaly I think that what you are describing is a perfectly natural movement that will only come, with like, seven hours a day seven days a week practice. It might be something that is aquired and not taught. At the moment I am with Peter Eggleton. Also at the moment I am trying to have a straightish leg as it arrives, which immediaitely flexes as I lower my toe, or in the case of the lady the heel to the ground.

How often we call "dangerous" that which we don't understand.

Body Flight is how you carry the body from leg to leg with as high a quality as possible.
It has very little to do with raw speed, and everything to do with the mechanics of propelling the body without unnecessary effort, clutter, and movement.
I'll leave the actual mechanics to others in the mood for debate.

My metaphor for body flight:
Think of a surfer.
They paddle furiously to get the surfboard started.
Once they've caught a wave, there is no effort to further push.

I've found that in dancing, the more I know, the more I don't know.
It's great humble pie.


m