Triangulation not strangulation. The first is an important idea as we explore our relationship with the floor, the other – well you know the other. For all dances it is of the greatest importance to understand your relationship with the floor. Hopefully this relationship doesn’t include kissing the floor, but understanding how to use the floor for balance, control and power is important to becoming a better dancer.
There are various ways we use the floor, first for posture and lift. We work all the time on lifting through our bodies. This lift must begin at the floor, keeping the feet active and open we work into the floor and lift our body away, we can feel this activity through the inside of our feet, legs and right to the core muscles of the body. If we use the floor effectively we find that it is easier to maintain our posture and position from foot to foot.
We also need to use the floor for power. We push off with our standing leg to generate more powerful movement. It is important to note that while the push off can generate more movement, bigger steps, it is also necessary for better movement. Using the floor to push off will make a difference in moving from foot to foot with more conviction and purpose even in a dance that does not require big movement.
Back to triangulation. Over the ages we have known the strength of the structure of the triangle, it’s use in architecture and engineering is well known. We must put this strong and useful structure to use in our dancing as well. At a basic level we can understand the triangle in our dancing as simply the form created when we take a step, between our two feet and our center. This makes our legs the side of the triangle and the floor between them the base. Got the picture? Aside from the structure itself, understanding how we use the triangle in the various dances can make all the difference in the world in your control and balance.
In a Latin dance when we take a forward walk we are using the back or free leg to push ourselves onto the step. This pushing action is the key to using the strength of the triangle. If you take the step and merely keep the free leg pointed behind you, you might find some benefit of the triangle but minimally. The real use of your triangle is when the back leg is actively pushing into the floor.
In other dance styles we may use the triangle differently but it is certainly still active. In your Ballroom dances for instance you experience your triangle when your foot first strikes the floor. At this point your weight is not entirely on one foot or the other but split between the two which allows for the look of continuity in your dancing and gives you a great deal of control of your timing. In dances like Tango, you are collecting or gathering your leg weight under your body between steps which might lead one to believe that there is no triangle, but not so. In Tango you must maintain a light pressure into the floor with the free foot at all times and this allows you more control and balance even in the most extreme positions.
All in all the floor is your friend. If we learn to use it effectively our balance, control, posture and timing will greatly improve and our dancing will be a much more pleasurable experience for you and your partner.
Lawrence Black is a teacher at Dance Station. If you would like to take lessons with Lawrence or any of our teachers call 505-989-9788 to schedule.
