Hello!

I performed on Spotlight demonstration with Rumba, and one of the judges wrote in my report that I had to work more with the inside edge of a foot. I never heard this from anyone of our teachers. Why do latin dances require dancing on the inside edge?
I also have problem with my balance. I see some beginners are really stable. I have hard time keeping balance. How can I work on it?

Thank you!

"I also have problem with my balance. I see some beginners are really stable. I have hard time keeping balance. How can I work on it?"

Keep your weight on the inside edge of your foot, around the base of the big toe.

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CAN YOU ASSIST ME?

Anonymous. Try , but only in practice. See if you can lift the none standing foot without having to adjust your balance, especially on the one beat. Turn the feet out. put the weight fully on the standing leg. Keep your spine straight. And tighten those muscles in your bottom as tight as you can whilst dancing . This is any style of dancing. Not just Latin.

It just means that your weight should be on the inside part of your foot and forward toward the ball. Using the inside edge helps with cuban motion, among other things. Actually, advanced dancers use different parts of the foot at different times, but the way to start is to learn to use the inside edge. If you're a beginner, it may be that your teachers just haven't introduced this concept to you yet.

Ask your teachers about this. If they don't know what it means, you need to find another teacher!

As far as balance is concerned, are your heels too high? (I'm assuming you're female for some reason; if not, sorry) If balance is a problem for you, it would be worth sacrificing a little vanity and going down to a 2 inch (or if necessary 1 1/2 inch heel) until your balance gets better.

The best exercise I've found for balance is slow toe raises. Keeping your weight toward the inside edge of your foot, raise up on yor toes as high as you can very slowly (like a count of 8), balance on tiptoe for 8, lower for a count of 8. At first, you may need to put your hand on something to help you balance, but over time your balance will get better.

When dancing, keeping your center engaged (ask your teachers) will also help you balance.

Good luck! Enjoy your dancing!

Dalolita. Boy or girl in Latin the feet should be at about 5 to 1 on a clock face when they are together.. When the LF is in front of the RF both feet if you bring them together will still be at 5 to 1. There should be no gap between the thighs. From the front only one leg is seen.Alen Fletcher once said if he were to write a book he would not use the word ball flat. He would say inside edge of the big toe. Bad balance is usualy caused by having a gap between the thighs plus the absence of turned out feet. Just try having the feet straight and then with the turnout. See what you think. As mentioned by Ellen the height of the heels can be a problem at first also..

Dalolita. To use the inside edge to most of us is not natural. Sit in front of the TV and you will find you are sitting with the outside edges downwards. The same on a bar stool with the feet on the rests. Try to go to the inside edge. Its not comfortable is it.
But this is what we have to do. So train yourself. It can be done if you are aware of it. Good luck with thoes edges.

Hello everyone

I really appreciate all the answers! I am trying to dance on the inside edge of my feet. Actually skin around my big toes became so rough (after 6 days a week practice). Even though I don't like it (being a girl ), I am kind of satisfied. 5 to 1 position of the feet is a good tip! I am trying to keep my knees together. So, thank you again!

My next challenge is spoting when I turn and spin! I am so bad in this! My head travels together with the body which looks ugly, and again I am out of balance when I turn. I know it is a matter of practice (and I have read the article on spotting on this website ). But any tips will be welcomed!

I'm not sure what the spotting section says to do, but as I ballet dancer I feel like a spotting "expert." As you go into a turn, pick something with your eyes (either your partner's eyes in a turn or something on a wall if it is a spin) and focus completely on it. As you are turning, tell yourself that no matter what you will not stop looking at your spot. As your body nears the halfway mark, your head will whip around to your spot again.
DO NOT EVEn THINK OF WHIPPING YOUR HEAD, JUST THINK OF NEVER ALLOWING YOURSELF TO MOVE IT. The whipping will happen automatically. So many people try to tell you when to whip your head, when in actual fact if it is a conscious thing the timing will always be off.

Dalolita. Try doing a Three Step Turn slowly. Use a wall for an alignment.
Face wall. Step to the side, draw the other foot up to the stepped foot and turn 1/2 a turn. Turn another 1/2 a turn and step to the side. Only finish facing wall. We want one complete turn not 1 and 1/4. Work out where your head should be stopping on the half a turn with feet together before completing the turn. When you feel confident a Three Step Turn can be after a New York either in the Rumba or the Cha Cha.The step being spoken about is probably the most used of all the steps when a Spin is required even though it is called a Three Step Turn it is a Spin.