"Hi Quickstep
No, you won't be falling forward - just moving forward.
If we take the transition from step 1 to step 2 in the waltz natural turn. I'm driving with my standing (right) foot. My hips are forward under my body and my right shin is angled forward. My standing ball of foot is a little behind my centre of mass (i.e. my body) but it doesn't matter - i'm not falling forward, i'm driving forward and my left leg is just about to swing through for step 2."
Actually, once your weight is past your center of floor pressure you are falling forward, but because you are driving forward faster than you are faling forward, you are moving in control and the result is wonderful.
That's basically how two legged creatures normally move - we are falling slightly for part of each step, but our drive in that direction overwhelms the fall. Only if we neglect to drive will we actually fall over.
"I think Anonymous is about right on this.(though i don't agree on the "the weight is on the foot" thing, but i'm sure we both mean the same thing).
In fact, i'm trying to improve my dancing by improving this very action. Up till now, i've tended to stick my bum out a bit which leaves my hips and body a little behind (hey- that's a good pun!!) where they should be and is impeding my body flight."
That leaving the hip back is precisely the problem that results, so it's great that you've realized this and are working to move beyond it. Generally the reason for leaving the hip back is to try to keep the body weight in balance over the foot in order to control the movement. But it just won't work with a partner. To dance in control with a partner, you have to aim the movement with care and then follow through on it with a committed, unhesistant drive - you can't get a way with a bad aim and then trying to make things work by "riding the brakes" which is to say leaving your hip weight behind.