[Tango-L] Heel-first versus Toe-first, teaching history

[Lois Donnay]

I've made my decision to suggest to students a heel-first walk through a
little different method. When I dance with a gentleman and it is wonderful,
or if friends come back to my table tingling, I spend a lot of time
observing how he dances. I find that heel-toe is how they are mostly
dancing. This is true even for teachers who teach toe-heel. However, they
may change this up for certain circumstances. 

At this juncture in my tango career, I can feel when a leader is
toe-walking. It doesn't have the flow-through feeling that I prefer.

Anyway, tango is a highly individualized dance, and I tell students that
they will develop their own style. I like this poem, which can be applied to
so many things:

"Of course I'll gladly give de rule
I meks beat biscuit by.
Dough I ain't sure dat you will mek
Dat bread de same as I
Case cookin's like religion is-
Some's 'lected an' some ain't,
An' rules don't know more mek a cook
Den sermons mek a saint."  Miss Howard Weeden, 1899

Lois Donnay
Minneapolis, MN 

-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Stermitz [mailto:stermitz at tango.org] 
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2007 12:37 PM
To: Tango-L
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] Heel-first versus Toe-first, teaching history

A student of mine pointed out that the footwork of a really good  
dancer is extremely subtle. It may be difficult to visually determine  
whether the weight was taken first by the heel or toe. Rolling  
through the foot? Landing on ball but not heel? Landing on ball then  
back to heel?

Even on stage the foot placement may not be as important as the  
particular visual line of leg and foot.


LAYERED OF LEARNING

My position comes from the fact that I am teaching normal, (mostly  
middle-aged) adults. When I teach ballerinas or someone from  
ballroom, I pull them aside for more specific words.

Focussing on details of foot placement, specifically telling a  
beginner to land toe first, is a huge distraction from more important  
things, like standing upright, walking boldly forward, walking in a  
straight line, leading the follower, learning tango steps.

More than that, the focus on toe first creates bad habits and really  
weird walking. Again, it isn't about the foot placement, but about  
what happens in the torso, hips and upper legs. Normal, "sidewalk"  
walking is a great foundation for tango walking. Details of foot  
placement should come later when the student has balance, posture and  
confidence.



On Mar 15, 2007, at 11:10 AM, Trini y Sean (PATangoS) wrote:

> ...
> Thanks, Tom & Randy.
>
> ...
> So, I agree with Tom and Randy that stepping heel-first is
> a good way of starting normal beginners.  However, I also
> see the value of walking toe-first for those who might be
> ready to try it.  Does that mean that they are training for
> the stage?  No, just that they are simply trying to be the
> best dancer they can be.
> ...
> I think it takes more work to dance toe-first.  It is those
> additional pieces that I am trying to fit together.
>
> Trini de Pittsburgh

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