[Tango-L] heel first deep steps

[Jocelyn Paine]

Dubravko nailed it on heel first deep (or long) steps. I am a small woman with short legs. I am successful in dancing with taller men because I have been taught how to “lengthen” my leg or step, allowing the hip socket to relax, stretching through the longer and more powerful muscles at the back of the leg into the heel. This kind of step originates in the deep core muscles. Even if I’m small, I constantly out-stride and out-walk taller people. When a partner invites me into an open or a torqued dance step, I am able to respond, but this type of large move does need to engage the back of the leg and, when best executed, lands lightly on the heel. In smaller steps I keep the heel up and grazing the ground.

I have been fortunate in that my profession has given me a lot of insight into the physiology of why this works. I’ve studied Laban Movement and connective tissue work; both explain what our bodies are doing in action, how to move bio-dynamically. Then I have to set aside the intellect and analysis and just dance!

Jocelyn Paine
(907) 276-8195
PO Box  91366
Anchorage, AK, 99509
http://www.jocelynpaine.com/ 
http://movementrelaxationtherapy.com/Home.html