Rises and falls
Encyclopedia
Rises and falls is a category of the ballroom dance
technique that refers to rises and falls of the body of a dancer achieved through actions of knees and feet (ankle
s).
This technique is primarily recognized in International Standard and American Smooth dance categories. Rises and falls are important in Waltz
, Foxtrot
, Quickstep
, and Viennese Waltz
. Tango
is described the "level" or "flat" dance, and its basic technique specifically eliminates rises/falls in the overall motion, with the exception of certain advanced figures and styles.
The expression "rises and falls of the body" is a rather vague one, and in attempts to be more precise some texts refer to center of gravity
, rather than body. This may also be misleading if taken out of context: the center of gravity may be lowered, e.g., by bends and sways. In addition, a certain amount of body rise and fall may be achieved by hip action, used in Latin dance, but absolutely proscribed in Standard and Smooth.
Rises and falls of the body is a natural phenomenon during casual walking: when feet are apart the body is closer to the ground than when the feet are together. Some dances, e.g., Charleston
, exaggerate this natural "bobbing", while in many others bobbing at each step is considered to be bad style or lack of proper technique.
through the flexing of the ankles.
Body rise sometimes refers to the rise without foot/ankle action, therefore the meaning of the expression should be understood from the context.
No foot rise: In descriptions of the footwork of step patterns it is abbreviated as NFR and means that the heel of the support foot remains in contact with the floor until the weight is transferred onto the other foot. Most often this description is applied to a step backwards in turning figures when the person is on the inside of the turn.
"Falls", i.e., returns from the position of rise, are often separated into three actions.
Ballroom dance
Ballroom dance refers to a set of partner dances, which are enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world. Because of its performance and entertainment aspects, ballroom dance is also widely enjoyed on stage, film, and television....
technique that refers to rises and falls of the body of a dancer achieved through actions of knees and feet (ankle
Ankle
The ankle joint is formed where the foot and the leg meet. The ankle, or talocrural joint, is a synovial hinge joint that connects the distal ends of the tibia and fibula in the lower limb with the proximal end of the talus bone in the foot...
s).
This technique is primarily recognized in International Standard and American Smooth dance categories. Rises and falls are important in Waltz
Waltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
, Foxtrot
Foxtrot (Dance)
The foxtrot is a smooth progressive dance characterized by long, continuous flowing movements across the dance floor. It is danced to big band music, and the feeling is one of elegance and sophistication...
, Quickstep
Quickstep
The quickstep is a light-hearted member of the standard ballroom dances. The movement of the dance is fast and powerfully flowing and sprinkled with syncopations. The upbeat melodies that quickstep is danced to make it suitable for both formal and informal events...
, and Viennese Waltz
Viennese Waltz
Viennese Waltz is the genre of a ballroom dance. At least three different meanings are recognized. In the historically first sense, the name may refer to several versions of the waltz, including the earliest waltzes done in ballroom dancing, danced to the music of Viennese Waltz.What is now called...
. Tango
Tango (dance)
Tango dance originated in the area of the Rio de la Plata , and spread to the rest of the world soon after....
is described the "level" or "flat" dance, and its basic technique specifically eliminates rises/falls in the overall motion, with the exception of certain advanced figures and styles.
The expression "rises and falls of the body" is a rather vague one, and in attempts to be more precise some texts refer to center of gravity
Center of gravity
In physics, a center of gravity of a material body is a point that may be used for a summary description of gravitational interactions. In a uniform gravitational field, the center of mass serves as the center of gravity...
, rather than body. This may also be misleading if taken out of context: the center of gravity may be lowered, e.g., by bends and sways. In addition, a certain amount of body rise and fall may be achieved by hip action, used in Latin dance, but absolutely proscribed in Standard and Smooth.
Rises and falls of the body is a natural phenomenon during casual walking: when feet are apart the body is closer to the ground than when the feet are together. Some dances, e.g., Charleston
Charleston (dance)
The Charleston is a dance named for the harbor city of Charleston, South Carolina. The rhythm was popularized in mainstream dance music in the United States by a 1923 tune called "The Charleston" by composer/pianist James P. Johnson which originated in the Broadway show Runnin' Wild and became one...
, exaggerate this natural "bobbing", while in many others bobbing at each step is considered to be bad style or lack of proper technique.
Actions
Foot rise refers to the rising of the body by pushing up onto the balls of the feetFoot
The foot is an anatomical structure found in many vertebrates. It is the terminal portion of a limb which bears weight and allows locomotion. In many animals with feet, the foot is a separate organ at the terminal part of the leg made up of one or more segments or bones, generally including claws...
through the flexing of the ankles.
Body rise sometimes refers to the rise without foot/ankle action, therefore the meaning of the expression should be understood from the context.
No foot rise: In descriptions of the footwork of step patterns it is abbreviated as NFR and means that the heel of the support foot remains in contact with the floor until the weight is transferred onto the other foot. Most often this description is applied to a step backwards in turning figures when the person is on the inside of the turn.
"Falls", i.e., returns from the position of rise, are often separated into three actions.
- Lowering refers to returning to the normal position of flat feet and "soft" i.e., ligntly flexed knees.
- Compression refers to further lowering through the bending of the knees in preparation of pushing off the foot into the next step. It is not to be confused with "compression", which refers to hip action in Latin dancesLatin dancesLatin dance is a general label that refers to various forms of ballroom dance and folk dance, and can include a wide range of dances originating in Latin America ....
. The term "compression" is used to emphacise the fact that this lowering is not simply "dropping down", but rather the straining of the leg muscles (in an analogy with the compression of a spring) simultaneously with going down. This serves both smooth arrival onto the next support foot and preparation of the next step.