We seem to be mixing up about three different threads of discussion.

Re Timothy, if that's the clip I think it is, I said that how he takes a step with the unobstructed outside leg doesn't reveal anything about how he would take a step with the inside leg. But speaking more generally, simply winning the top spot does not mean there is no room for improvement - I would assume he hopes to turn out an even better performance next year. Nor is every champion going to exceed the performance of every previous one in all areas.

With Victor, yes, there are some obvious differences between the rising star and the open that really jump out once you know what to look for (once you can see through the general amazement and compare details to what you've seen others do). Speaking about the rising star and lower half of the open final in general, determined couples can go quite far with artistic sense and hard work, but getting to the next level, the very top of the top requires a higher level of understanding of the technique - often this is what is most clearly making the difference of the final few places. It would be tempting to think these issues should wait for then, however many of them concern the most basic actions and when adopted can work wonders for relatively beginner dancers - the very best couples are not really better dancers than those a few places down, they simply have knowledge of better methods. As a result, they are not only better dancers, but also far far more effective at helping students build the skills for effortless dancing.

The waltz syllabus clips here are unique in being just about the only freely available demonstration of basics online. This has made them something of a reference, however they also illustrate a point I was making that Jonathan then made himself: keeping the body stationary over the standing leg while sending the moving leg ahead can cause problems. In terms of providing alternatives, I'd love to present information in an organized and illustrated fashion, online and in person, but the dance establishment in general is simply not very welcoming to new voices (even bearing a traditional message), so serious efforts are going to have to wait until after retirement from competition.

The one thing that is missing in this discusion is the position of the knees. Please not that they are allways close to each other. The feet are allways carried under the body and over the knees. THe length of stride can be as large as you like providing the knees are close enough to easily transfer weight from one knee over the other.

Dear Rha,
To think over the words: the lady can leave the hip more up to the man" on step 1 in natural time and try it at my clinic, I found it created smoother down swing and prettier shape. Great thanks!

Rha. Question for our panel. Modern Waltz Take the first three of a Natural. From the man's steps. Do we walk away from the back foot leaving it where it is going right to the tip of the toe. Do we after arriving on the suporting foot have a very slight movement of the hips in the opposite direction giving more swing to our next step. A bit like Tai Chi where there is a move in the opposite to the next move, which stops that stone wall then lets start look.

Jonathan. Well done . I'm really pleased that this came up. I hope the guy who said that the body goes first is watching. If I stand close to a wall and take a pace foreward my body does not arrive in front of my leg. I think most of the problems that others encounter is because their ballroom hold is not correct. The lady has got to be to the man's right . Right side to right side. If I wear a tie the ladies rib cage must not touch the tie.
Now what can be simpler than that to explain. Incidently the bit about the tie comes from a couple who's recent performances would make them eligable to speak on this matter. Anyway, a brilliant job well done Jonathan.

When walking or dancing the spine is carried forward balanced between both feet, so YES the feet are placed outside the body, but it is best to think of the legs as swinging under the body. (The feet find their own position under the body ). When moving from a stationary position it is the knee that leads the body.

As long as we're doing the wall drill, make sure to do it with the critical post-beginner detail: your standing knee must not develop more than a tiny bit ahead of your standing hip, rather as you flex into the knee your standing shoulder and hip must move forward to stay over the knee. Hard, isn't it? Especially hard to do it without falling into the step. But that's what seperates the men from the boys - and makes keeping the free foot in your own space so much simpler.

The way to avoid falling is to not lower until you are ready to move, perhaps even a tiny bit behind the beat - then you can push out of the standing leg without hesitation, so that the movement is controlled, and rather than falling onto the free leg. This does conflict with the over emphasis on lowering given to beginners who tend to forget to lower at all, so it's a detail that can be saved for a few months later, but it's a necessary component of fully developed dancing.

And of course it applies to the forward action only - going backwards, the knee and hip initially move in opposition.

Dear Jonathan,
Thanks a lot for showing the wonderful images and your convincible words.They are quite helpful for me in my practice . Hoping more valuable pictures and analysis coming . such as the Tango setup in different angles.
yling .

Yichen-1
Having followed your postings with interest I have to say how well your written English has impoved.

Thanks for your warmest encouraging . More learning and practicing is an effective way for me who has no chance to study Englsih in the school.( I learnt Russian in my high school, there were full of politic vocabularies in my text books . I felt quite frustrated when I failed to answer a tourist's simple question about the place and tram in Russian ,then my teacher taught me phonetic symble and asked me coming back to read and write what she had taught me next day. The cultural revolution destroyed several generations in China . As a learning and communicating tool , I have great pressure from poor English. I am shame also why I put more effort on dancing but English . Fortunately , I enter this website and learn a lot by chating with all of you .
Always seeking truth from facts is essential to improve ourselves I believed.
I love this healthy website and extremely greaful for sharing your knowledge and friendship.