[Tango-L] Ball first? Heel first?

[Crrtango@aol.com]

First a correction.   It is not the toe, but the ball of the foot that you 
are stepping on, as opposed to the heel and second, yes, it is more difficult to 
step on the ball at first, but it is also much smoother, more elegant and it 
keeps your weight over the ball which maintains your vertical axis without 
bending your back forward. There are many reasons to dance on the ball of the 
foot. It is not a throwback or conservative or even considered a style...it is 
better dancing and I personally think it looks more refined. I think it is best 
to consider it not so much a fundamental (although I do) but as a refinement. 

 This is not to say that you can't step on the heel sometimes and everyone 
does, but over the years, all the best dancers I have seen step and walk mostly 
on the ball of the foot.   All of the people I have studied with over the 
years from Miguel Zotto to Danel Bastone to Carlos Gavito have also taught it. It 
is not usually taught at the very beginning because it takes practice to 
master it.   Most people (leaders) don't do it simply because it is too much work 
to get it right. But ultimately you should try to master walking and dancing on 
the ball, especially in close embrace/milonguero social dancing. 

Cheers,
Charles


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