i just got a back injury and it is stopping me from doing my dancing and i am so disapoinet i hav a competation exams presenttaion nd my school varity show all coming up before christmas and i just want to dance not rest dancing really makes me happy x

""The farther it goes the lower to the floor it gets ,untill the tip of the toe touches the floor. The only way you could get any further extension is to lean forward and we don't do that. This is about where you should be on the count of three (and). """
I assume we're still talking slow waltz here.
Surely we lower on 3&. On a natural turn, on 3& i would aim to have just lowered my right heel and be softening my right leg further of course. But on this 3& my left (moving foot)would no way be extended fully back to the tip of the toe. This happens on the next 1. On 3& my left foot is just starting to move and is about 9 inches away from the standing foot. I try to do this because it's what Sinkinson does (on his teaching tape, anyway) .
also, by the time my left leg is fully extended, my body is moving back and committed to the movement onto this left leg (step 4 of a natural turn).

So Phil. Were the excercises the same as I tried to describe. I beleive he sees the same mistakes wherever he goes. That's why he gets right to the Basic actions. My teachers have been a pupil of his for many years. They meet up in Hong Kong usually and regularly. Hong Kong is an extremly busy place with European dancers who make their base from there. In the future keep an out out for Chinese dancers. A couple of them have already climed into the highest ranking in both Modern and Latin. Good luck

Anonymous. Where on earth did you learn that we never position the free foot whilst the body is still stationaly over the standing foot. As a lady where are you on the count of
( and )that is three ( and ). And where is the man who has verticlly lowered.

"Anonymous. 45 degrees is the amount mentioned."

Yes, but if 45 degress is or isn't the PROPER amount depends entirely on the situation, which WAS NOT MENTIONED.

Of course you won't understand that, because you worship heroes and details, while having not a clue as to the substance of what you are talking about.

"Heres another you wont be able to do."

Says who?
"The farther it goes the lower to the floor it gets ,untill the tip of the toe touches the floor. The only way you could get any further extension is to lean forward and we don't do that. This is about where you should be on the count of three (and)."

No, absolutely wrong. You must never try to position the free foot like that with the body weight still stationary over the standing foot.

It is the body, not the feet, which dance.

"Don't forget . To the tip of the toe."

Don't forget, ONLY if you body has moved far enough to justify that. Otherwise going to the tip of the toe is a fatal error.

"The person going back extends . The person in front doesn't. On one the person in front moves his leg forward leaving the tip of the rear toe on the floor. Do you notice there are no legs to push or clash.At this point we have two beautiful leg lines one in front the other behind."

Yes, that it a worthwhile point. But it is a static exercise, and NOT DANCING which you have described. Real dancing will include this to some degree, but only when there is substantial body movement.

The feet do not dance, the bodies do.

You guys are very lucky to be having workshops with Sinkinson. He is a brilliant dancer and a brilliant teacher. Luckily, i've been to a couple workshops with him and could nearly do the drill exercises

Anonymous. 45 degrees is the amount mentioned. If you can't get your heels off the floor that's your bad luck. 45 degrees is normal. Now you tell me who said it isn't. Apart from yourself.
Heres another you wont be able to do. Stand on one leg with your other off the floor with the shin level with the floor. Extend the one that is in the air backwards. Keep verticle. You can bend the knee.You are balanced at this point or you are not still standing. Extent the foot back, The farther it goes the lower to the floor it gets ,untill the tip of the toe touches the floor. The only way you could get any further extension is to lean forward and we don't do that. This is about where you should be on the count of three (and). First get the supporting heel to the floor quickly otherwise you won'have time to extend. All of this is well within your reach. Don't forget . To the tip of the toe. This is what seventy dancers including myself was doing last evening. Hold on you might say. Theres something different here. How come the leg is back on an (and) count. The person going back extends . The person in front doesn't. On one the person in front moves his leg forward leaving the tip of the rear toe on the floor. Do you notice there are no legs to push or clash.At this point we have two beautiful leg lines one in front the other behind. If you look this is what you see if you put a DVD on in slow motion. After that the roles are reversed. First though we had to do it solo. Theres lots more. Like a collection point, rising up on our toes . Lower on three (and) and do again. Or start backwards. Don't forget where you saw it.

"Heres a clue. When you are on your two toes the angle of the foot to floor is 45 degrees."

Rubbish. That's a reasonably answer for some situations, but it is entirely dependent on the physical capability of the dancer and the movement they wish to achieve. It could easily be quite a bit more or quite a bit less.

Last post I misspelt Andrew's name it is an i and not an e.
I attended his workshop yesterday. I believe that what he taught is like copyright. So buy his tape.
One thing I will say though because it has come up before. The angle between the floor and the shin is. Heres a clue. When you are on your two toes the angle of the foot to floor is 45 degrees. Another clue. The rear foot for man and lady is to the tip of the toe. That's as the lady steps back, and as the man steps forward
I'm going to boast here. Out of a hugh crowd ,which included professionals and some of our best Ametuers. The question was asked
" How many different movements are there in one change step in the Waltz ". Nobody was game to answer. I volunteered to answer and got it right. That finishes my claim to fame. My legs at this moment just don't want to move. The different exercises we had to do to simulate the correct movements was severe. Like on one leg rising and lowering which included the bending of the knee. Then when we got with a partner that's where we had to go. In all, this was the most brilliant teaching and demonstration of the steps I have ever encountered. He is an extremely fit person and I don't think has put on an ounce of weight since I saw him last 18 years ago .Now I am looking forward to the next and last workshop here tomorrow. Foxtrot this time .

After reading some of these threads I begin to see where because the mind is fixed mistakes can occure in a persons abiliy to reading correctly as it was intended to be read. How far do you have to extend your foot behind and go to the tip of the toe,that is the very tip. I can get the tip of the toe on the floor behind me easily in about five inches which can then move to about the width of an ordinary door frame. Because I said go to the tip of the toe some seem to think it means full stretch. The action can be clearly seen in pictures 1 2 3. Backward Walk.
Copy that and you won't be far wrong.