Rise and fall when walking?

D

Dave Bailey

Active Member
Probably a stupid question, but should there be any rise / fall during a walk, or should you be more or less constant?

I always assumed that it was the latter - i.e. that you should soften the knees whilst collecting, to minimize and up / down motions.

Am I right, wrong with that?
 
I think it is a style preference. I've had some very good dancers tell me to do this, while another very good dancer told me not to. I find the lowering is a good way to let the follower know that something different is occurring (or about to occur).

Also, I've had a another teacher say to raise (a little) on the side that you are stepping on (a little like rocking a baby).
 
I think of it as level, unless you're doing something interesting (generally a figure) and wish to use rise/fall for emphasis. But for straight walking I generally prefer it to be level. Just don't bounce...hate bouncing.
 
When you are going to the side you should lower yourself.
When you are going straight, go as straight and smooth as possible .

I have been dancing for a year, I cannot perform many figures,
but some girls were mesmerize by my walking. :cool:

always step on extended leg, and while stepping on, bent knee slightly.
 
It's not a stupid question, David, but you have made me start thinking 'what is tango, then?'!!

I've always assumed rise and fall was ballroom and not appropriate for tango. On the other hand, tango is such that people dance so differently and it is all, still tango that I sometimes muse 'what is tango?'.

One key element we speak of is walking from, as Angel refers to it 'the middle to middle'. I always thought of 'no rise and fall' as a key element.

I feel a new thread coming on! .......

sidenote: look how Geraldine Paludi dances on her toes, yet she's so strong she never rises and falls and of course, it gives her great extensions. Yet you would never get a teacher telling you to dance on your toes. Is what GP does tango? Yes.
 
Mladenac said:
When you are going to the side you should lower yourself.
When you are going straight, go as straight and smooth as possible .

I have been dancing for a year, I cannot perform many figures,
but some girls were mesmerize by my walking. :cool:

always step on extended leg, and while stepping on, bent knee slightly.
Click to expand...
While there is nothing wrong with what you have stated, another possibility (explained to me during a private by Mariam and Leonardo) is to go down (slightly) when starting the walk, and not come back up until the walk is ending (to either pause, or start some figure). Leonardo called this "circular motion". Basically, he advocated using circular motion to start any change in what steps or figures you do.

This actually is consistent with what you said about taking a side step. Presumably, before you took the side step, you were walking or doing something else. Then you go down to start the side step, then come back up when ending. The only difference is then to go back down when starting your walk, and come back up when the walking ends (but NOT going up and down for each step of the walk).
 
dchester said:
While there is nothing wrong with what you have stated, another possibility (explained to me during a private by Mariam and Leonardo) is to go down (slightly) when starting the walk, and not come back up until the walk is ending (to either pause, or start some figure). Leonardo called this "circular motion". Basically, he advocated using circular motion to start any change in what steps or figures you do.
Click to expand...

But is that functional or decorative?
 
dchester said:
..another possibility (explained to me during a private by Mariam and Leonardo) is to go down (slightly) when starting the walk, and not come back up until the walk is ending...
Click to expand...

And in between, if I want a follower to take slower, and larger steps, I get a little bit lower again and if I want her to do small steps (double time) the lead is slightly upwards directed. So do I.


Dave Bailey said:
.. Probably a stupid question, but should there be any rise / fall during a walk..
Click to expand...

Please correct me, I´m not that fit with it, but, isn´t there much more rise and fall in Milonga?
 
I go down a bit when taking turn so partner can go around me easier.

Milonga should be danced on the ground (more flat footed for men, ladies more toes only with slight bent in knees) and absolutely linear, with smaller steps.
 
Mladenac said:
I go down a bit when taking turn so partner can go around me easier.

Milonga should be danced on the ground (more flat footed for men, ladies more toes only with slight bent in knees) and absolutely linear, with smaller steps.
Click to expand...
I'm talking about rise and fall whilst walking traditional tango - more precisely, should there be any rise during the "collect" part of a walk or not?

Or does it not matter?

I still don't think I've heard a definite answer...

dchester said:
While there is nothing wrong with what you have stated, another possibility (explained to me during a private by Mariam and Leonardo) is to go down (slightly) when starting the walk, and not come back up until the walk is ending (to either pause, or start some figure). Leonardo called this "circular motion". Basically, he advocated using circular motion to start any change in what steps or figures you do.
Click to expand...
Yes, that's pretty much the way I understood it to work also.

To me, lowering is part of preparation, and whilst walking, you keep lowered - and don't bob up and down during collection. And when you stop walking, you return to "raised" position.

But is that just a stylistic preference or what?
 
Dave Bailey said:
Probably a stupid question, but should there be any rise / fall during a walk, or should you be more or less constant?

I always assumed that it was the latter - i.e. that you should soften the knees whilst collecting, to minimize and up / down motions.

Am I right, wrong with that?
Click to expand...

Sometimes a little bob is inevitable...but nothing like a "rise and fall" ballroom stylie. Just think: down-and-dirty and that'll keep you grounded..:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Dance Ads

Advertise on Dance Forums Reach dancers, teachers, studios, event organizers, and dance-friendly brands. View ad options
Back
Top