The moving foot stays in contact with the floor it does not lift.
It is all about the moving foot. The first step is just a step. It is on the count of and, or as the moving foot is moving. This is the step we dance. Latin or Modern.

"The moving foot stays in contact with the floor it does not lift."

Yes, but SO WHAT? The foot is in contact with the floor BUT NOT SUPPORTING ANY WEIGHT. Thus there is NO FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE IN THE BODY OR STANDING LEG ACTION CAUSED BY LEAVING IT ON THE FLOOR.

What you've identified is a COSMETIC difference between walking and dance walking - IT IS NOT A *FUNCTIONAL* DIFFERENCE.

"It is all about the moving foot."

Just go around saying that a lot - it will point out to everyone that you really don't understand the first thing about dancing.

Dancing is not about the moving foot.

It's about the MOVING BODY.

And the foot that is moving the body - which is of course the standing foot.

Until you figure that out, you will continue to analyze everything in a severly distorted and backwards way, because you COMPLETELY MIS THE WHOLE POINT OF DANCE TECHNIQUE. The point, as any real dancer will tell you, is to accomplish MOVEMENT OF THE BODY.

Champioship dancers do not drop or fall. They use their knees and ankles and are constantly balanced. Are you saying they are not balanced.

"Champioship dancers do not drop or fall. They use their knees and ankles and are constantly balanced. Are you saying they are not balanced."

They are poised and moving with care and precisely the timing they want, but like most humans in motion they are OFF BALANCE.

The reason you may not want to call it that is that being off balance in this way is such a natural and everyday part of human movement. It's DESIREABLE - wheras the minute I say OFF BALANCE, you start imagining something unintended.

This is INTENTIONAL, NECESSARY IMBALANCE - if it's happening unintentionally, or if its out of control, then you aren't just off balance, you are moving without aim.

I've gone back to your posting 4 /1/07.
The body weight is verticly aligned directly over the knees, which are in front of the toes.
That is not possible unless the knees are dead straight even then I don't think it would be acceptable. When you make a suggestion, don't you try before you write. If you do it correctly there is only one way. If we take the lowering in the Waltz. As the heel touches the floor the knees bend. Where is the weight. It is behind the knees. Your body is not over your knees unless your knees are straight which is incorrect. It's as simple as that. Let us not forget that you might have to go backward or forward or to the side.