Understanding The Technique

Of all the aspects of Rise and Fall, LOWERING is perhaps the most difficult to truly master. And the written technique simply does not address at all the complexity of this topic.

Fundamentally, LOWERING is bending the knees while maintaining a clear vertical posture and consistent relationship with partner. But exactly what happens when you lower is determined by the step you are taking as well as the next step that you will take. The combinations create five (5) separate distinct ways in which you can lower:

1. Moving Forward to continue Forward
2. Moving Backward to continue Backward
3. Moving Forward to change to Backward
4. Moving Backward to change to Forward
5. Closing

Probably the most common lowering action is the first listed: Moving Forward to continue Forward. This is because in Closed Position and Outside Partner, approximately half the time we will move forward into the next step, plus if we are in Promenade or Counter Promenade Position, our next step will also be forward. Thus mastering this technique will give us the most return for our investment of effort.

First, we need to understand our goal. We want to move smoothly from the end of one figure into the start of the next one. All lowering steps have a footwork of TOE HEEL. In addition, (virtually) all figures end with a LOWERING action at the end of the figure. (We are excluding Tango since it has no rise.)

We need to sequence the action of TOE HEEL with the transfer of weight onto the foot and with the bending of the knees to create the correct movement of body weight through the foot.

In the case of moving forward to continue forward, we need the hip weight to move from the back of the foot through the arch into the toes. In order for this to happen, the weight must actually transfer onto the foot starting at the heel, even though the footwork is given as TOE HEEL. Although this is the most common action, it is not the easiest to understand, so lets start with one that is a bit more simple to grasp: Forward to change to Backward.

When taking a forward step that lowers, and is followed by a backward step, we want the hip weight to actually CHANGE direction, i.e., it our weight was moving forward through the standing foot, and now we want it to move backward through the standing foot: from toe to heel.

Lets look very closely at this effect.

• Stand high on the balls of both feet with the legs straight but not locked, and the heels well off the floor.
• Point the LEFT foot forward, toes still in contact with the floor, but do NOT allow your body weight to shift (either forward or backward.)
• Transfer the weight forward onto the ball of the LEFT foot, keeping the LEFT heel well off the floor. Make sure you transfer 100% of your weight onto the ball of the LEFT foot, keeping the RIGHT leg straight (but not locked) behind you.
• Now start to bend BOTH knees while allowing the LEFT foot to lower to the floor so that the LEFT heel touches the floor, but the weight is still primarily over the ball of the foot.
• The RIGHT knee should be pointing directly to the floor and the RIGHT foot should NOT collect forward.
• Once the LEFT foot is flat continue to bend the knees allowing the hip weight to start to move backward from the ball to the arch and toward the heel.
• Clearly at this point the next step wants to be BACKWARD. Our weight has changed from moving forward on when we took this step to moving backward into the next step.
• Quite literally the spine moved forward, then down, then back.

Repeat this action several times until you have complete control over the speed of lowering and timing and direction of weight transfer. Once you are confident that you can do it well, switch to stepping from the LEFT foot onto the RIGHT foot and repeat until you have equal control.

We have created a specific sequence involving footwork, knee bend and weight transfer which causes the desired effect:

1. Place the foot (TOE)
2. Transfer weight forward onto the foot (still TOE)
3. Start the knee bend (still TOE)
4. Complete the footwork (HEEL touches floor, foot now FLAT)
5. Complete the knee bend, weight transferring from ball toward heel

The nice thing about this particular step is that for most people it is fairly easy to feel the weight move forward, come down and then shift backward.

Now, lets look at a slightly more challenging weight transfer: Moving Forward to continue Forward:

RISE AT THE END OF is used primarily in Foxtrot, but also occurs in Quickstep and in Waltz. In Quickstep it tends to be used in figures with a base timing of SQQ (Natural Turn, Chasse Reverse Turn). It is also used in by the Leader all HEEL TURNS danced by the Follower (in all dances.)

In Waltz and Foxtrot, all the basic figures start having lowered at the end of the previous figure. In general we lower to our ‘set height’, i.e. the amount of knee bend that is normal of you.

At the end of a step danced as RISE AT E/O you should be standing at your full height with legs straight, but not locked, and on a flat foot. The footwork of all forward steps danced as RISE AT E/O is always HEEL TOE, but the action of moving through the toes occurs as you leave the foot to take the next step, rather than as an extra vertical lift while still balanced over that foot. If you ‘pop’ up to the toes your forward momentum would be lost.

Lets do some exercises with RISE AT THE END OF:

• Find a table, or ballet barre, or counter top that you can stand next to.
• Stand with your feet together, your LEFT hip next to the barre (table, etc.), legs straight, but not locked, weight on your LEFT foot and your feet parallel to the barre. (Free foot away from the barre.)
• Touch the barre with your LEFT hand.
• Look and see where the top of the barre is relative to your body. This is position relative to the barre you will want after you have taken the step.
• Bend your knees to your set height, with your RIGHT knee higher than your LEFT knee and your RIGHT heel well off the floor.
• Look and see where the top of the barre is relative to your body. Your body should be lower relative to the barre. This is your starting position.
• Take a forward step, transferring 100% of your weight onto your RIGHT foot.
• Make sure you are stepping with a HEEL lead, i.e. your heel of your foot touches the floor first
• When your heel strikes start to straighten both legs so that as full weight is transferred to your RIGHT foot you arrive with both legs straight but not locked.
• Leave the LEFT leg extended behind you. Do NOT collect the free foot.
• Your step should also be straight forward so that your foot is parallel to the barre.
• Look at the barre again. You should be standing comfortably balanced on your RIGHT leg with both legs straight and your LEFT leg extended behind you.

Repeat this action several times. This type of forward step occurs over and over again in the technique, so it is important that you can smoothly and easily transfer weight from a bent leg to a straight leg.

Once you can easily take a forward step from your LEFT foot to your RIGHT foot and arrive onto a straight (but not locked) leg, then turn around so that your RIGHT hip is near the barre and repeat stepping from your RIGHT foot to your LEFT foot.

Since RISE is elevating the body (by straightening the legs), NO RISE would seem to mean NOT elevating the body. And in some cases, that is true. But the more general meaning is actually NO CHANGE in height.

In Waltz and Foxtrot, all the basic figures start having lowered at the end of the previous figure. In general we lower to our ‘set height’, i.e. the amount of knee bend that is normal of you.

If you execute a step with NO RISE, you should be at the same height when you put full weight that foot as when you were standing on the previous foot.

Here is a simple way to understand NO RISE:

• Find a table, or ballet barre, or counter top that you can stand next to.
• Stand with your feet together, your LEFT hip next to the barre (table, etc.), weight on your LEFT foot and your feet parallel to the barre. (Free foot away from the barre.)
• Touch the barre with your LEFT hand.
• Bend your knees to your set height, with your RIGHT knee higher than your LEFT knee and your RIGHT heel well off the floor.
• Look and see where the top of the barre is relative to your body.
• Take a forward step, transferring 100% of your weight onto your RIGHT foot.
• Make sure you are stepping with a HEEL lead, i.e. your heel of your foot touches the floor first, then as you complete the weight transfer, your foot goes flat.
• Your step should also be straight forward so that your foot is parallel to the barre.
• The step should end with the knee of the free leg (LEFT in this case) pointing down towards the floor and the free foot behind you. Do NOT draw the feet foot under the body. In most cases you do not want to collect the free foot.
• Look again and see if the barre is at the same place relative to your body.

If YES, good. That is NO RISE.
If NO, then try again.

Actually, try it again anyway. Practicing simple actions helps to create a stronger foundation for your dancing. Get really good at the fundamental techniques so that when you combine the technical elements into increasingly complex figures, you still have control over them.

Once you can easily take a forward step from your LEFT foot to your RIGHT foot and maintain your set height, then turn around so that your RIGHT hip is near the barre and repeat stepping from your RIGHT foot to your LEFT foot.