No matter what it say's in the book, if you wan't to Lilt in the waltz you must also fall with gravity at the start of the lowering proces.

The vagaries of the english language.. semantics et al .

I suspect that the word 'fall' is not liked because it implies no control (as in falling off a cliff). Lowering suggests control. Which is the best way to describe it in dancing.
But i agree, the english language is full of strange things (and i'm english!).

So am I.. it also bares mentioning, that the jargon used in the book, dates from the 40s, and language has evolved in leaps and bounds ( dont ya luv hyperbole ! )

"Does anybodyn else believe that the ISTD made a mistake when they allowed the word fall to be used. Should it have been rise and lower.What we most certainly don't do is fall. We lower dont we."

Ultimately, it is like this:

When you practice, you "lower".

When you dance, you "fall".

To fully dance, you must make use of the full energy of gravity pulling you towards the floor, and do so with abandon, without holding back.

But to do that safely and not bombastically, you must spend a lot of time practicing careful movements to build control, both as a skill and as a physical strength in your muscles.

Therefore - practice "lowering" but when it comes time to fully dance, let yourself "fall" and trust in your practice-earned ability to use that energy.

It's like that "life lived in fear is a life half lived" quote from the movie. You can't go around being irresponsible all of the time. But you also can't fully live without occasionally taking a risk.

cdroge. Practice for Foxtrot. On your own to music. Dance down the floor all slows and with every step a heel.Only allow the moving foot to arrive under the body on the second beat and on the next step on the fourth beat. Obey the golden rule spoken about by John wood on his tape.. Stand on the supporting foot as long as possible. This may feel like a momentary pause, but it isn't because you are now flexing the knee which at the extent of the stride was straight. You must count either 1 2 3 4, or slow (and) slow (and). (and) being beat two and four.
If you had been made to do this type of practise 35 years ago you wouldn't have needed to read the above.
I've gone into a bit of detail here because reading this there might be some less informed.
Any of you who are into the Rumba would be well advised to do the same up and down the floor to music but stepping ball flat and not heel leads of course.

Polished: Welcome back Quickstep it is you is it not?

Lets get back to the raising and lowering in the Swing Dances. The person who has written and believes that the third step is down on a Feather Step and not maintained as the technique book says. How would you do an Open Telemark third step. Are you up and then lower. How about in the same step in the Waltz. What of the last step of a Progressive Chasse. Don't tell me that isn't at its highest point after step three onto step four. How about the last step of a Lockstep in the Quickstep. Don't tell me that that isn't with height maintained then lower. How about step four on your Quarter Turn in the Quickstep. What does the book say. Page 44. Alex Moore.

PLEASE... dont quote the book.. thats for exam purposes, and was devised to create standardisation, and much of it does not relate with reality ,into todays interpretations of the practical application of advanced theories.

Remember, that was written in 1948.... there have been many changes in techn., music and style since that time ( I know, Ive lived , danced and taught thru them ) .

There is an ongoing discussion in great detail on a far more technical level, on this very subject , on Dance Forums .

There are 3/4 dominant styles currently being proffered to the comp. arena...... Italian, Classic English and Round , which many coaches are teaching, with no consensus . In addition to those, add the " body " school also prominent.

Let me pass on this nugget for you to consider... world famous coach once stated ( para phrased )

" no technique can be firm, and any may change due to circumstance ".

"The person who has written and believes that the third step is down on a Feather Step and not maintained as the technique book says."

You are misquoting.

What was said was that the quality mentioned in the book, the rise in the feet, is in fact maintained. But at the same time, the body is already losing altitude as the legs separate during the beginning of step three.

Foot rise and altitude are not the same thing. You can have altitude without foot rise, and you can also as in this case loose altitude while still maintaining foot rise.