Yes, you are correct, it is all created from being low in the knees, allowing the knees, and therefore your body weight, to roll forward. I always think upon it as fall and rise, as you are lowering through the floor, rolling through the feet to rise. As you lower at the end of the third beat, with knees forward, this is where the power comes from. On 3 &, is where the knees roll forward pushing from the floor, rolling through the feet. All about power and body shift.
I saw them live recently at the Worlds in Blackpool last November. Absolutely brilliant.

Thanks for that. I envy you seeing them dance in Blackpool. From what I have seen on recorded clips they are very special.

Jennifer F has already answered this, and I fully endorse all she said.

All I would like to add is, strange though it might seem, sometimes when watching a dancer, especially in videos, dvds or you-tube, what we see (technique wise) is sometimes very often different to what is actually happening. Doing one thing can give the allusion of doing something different! Hard to explain really, but hope you get the gist.

You have hit the nail on the head ! I find most dancing - I am speaking ballroom( as that is what I know) - is an illusion. One such example is how most viewers believe ballroom to be light across the floor, but they don't realise how much weight and pressure goes down into the floor through each standing leg, and how much work goes on through legs and feet. So much pressure and contact through the floor and to each other..but of course, top dancers are working incredibly hard to make it look easy. Other such illusion ( one that Darcy has fallen for) is that the lady has to bend backwards from the waist ! Of course, to the onlooker it may look that way, but this could not be further from the truth.

Absolutely. When I was competing, and practising 6 days a week (Latin) I would wear holes in my shoes from the inside out in less than a month! (Jolly expensive!)

And as for Darcey telling a celeb she needed to bend her back more! I felt like throwing something at the tv. It is one of the worst things to do - I've seen too many girls who've been badly taught grow up with horrendous back and neck injuries because they've been taught to arch their back. It doesn't even look nice.

On that subject .... being taught badly, it horrifies me that just about anyone can learn a couple of steps and open a dance school. All they have to do to become "professional" is to accept money for a lesson. There really should be far more restrictions in place. What's your feelings?

I fully agree with you. I think anyone teaching should, at the very least, be studying to take their exams. As you say, ladies can get horrific injuries if they are taught incorrectly or if they try to adopt a posture which they think they see....
If the lady is bent backwards, the man would find it very difficult to move as she will feel incredibly back weighted and heavy. She will not be in balance and how can you move or dance properly if you are out of balance.
Oh yes, dance shoes are so very expensive for what you get...I wear mine out in no time at all and of course the comp shoes have to perfect. Hate seeing ladies beautifully groomed wearing a gorgeous dress, look down and they have dirty shoes.

re being a professional - people looking for a teacher really should check re the qualifications of the person they choose - a good indicator is do they do medal tests? as the pro has to be member of an association to run them - what people do not realise that liability insurance is null and void if those teaching them are not qualified to do so

I remember a case in Kent when line dancing was popular classes being held in a social club one of the pupils hurt themselves on the premises tthe clubs liability insurance refused to pay out due to the instructor not being formally qualified

in our school we have a wall with all our qualifications up for anyone to see

I have a question regarding ballroom dresses.

Is there a reason why the skirt of a lot of dresses seems to start quite low down (eg like this and this) rather than higher up like this or this.

Does it emphasize any particular aspect of ballroom dancing or is it just a stylistic thing? If the skirt part actually started at my waist would it create any problems or "look wrong?"

edit: also if anyone has any general tips as to what makes a good ballroom dress please let me know!

someone told me yesterday when I mentioned a dress I'd seen with feather decorations on the arms was that if you get nervous they'll shake and give you away! I'd never have thought of that...

There is no reason why you can't have a dress where the skirt join the bodice at the waist, if that is what you feel suits you best.

However, having a dropped waist is a matter of styling. Most dancers (I emphasise most) find that the dropped waistline is generally more flattering, but also it makes the back look longer when dancing, and more elegant.

It is also, of course, a case of what tends to be fashionable at any given time. When it was more fashionable for dresses to be "joined at the waist", the skirts were much shorter - just below the knee. [As I suspect the blue dress you have indicated above is?]

Today's ballroom dresses are ankle length, so having a dropped waistline tends to balance the dress more, so that the skirt isn't twice as long as the bodice.

Another reason is a dropped waistline will prevent the dress floating up too high when the dancer is turning - remembering that top dancers will turn and spin very fast.

Latin dancers also tend to favour a dropped waistline.

By dropped "waistline" we often mean it is dropped roughly to the area at the top of the legs.

But, as I said, it is a matter of taste and preference.

I can see Kaycee has answered and I fully agree with her comments.
Personally I prefer the "dropped waistline" although in reality, usually there is no waistline at all. Godets generally start to flair out at top of legs or hips.
It is all a matter of personal taste, but you have to wear what you are comfortable in and what flatters. As Kaycee says, the dropped waistline is more flattering and most importantly creates long lines. You want to create a nice long back line and this will be more difficult to achieve if there was a join at the waist.
With regards to your arms, I have always been taught to have toned - not stiff - arms in ballroom, so if you can think of this, you won't allow your arms to shake !!

When I have a ballroom dress made, there are lots of factors that come into play. I like a dress that will create volume and "dance" well. Colour and decoration is important, but most important of all, create a dress that has the WOW factor, fits well,flatters and is light to wear. I love a dress that has impact. You have to consider the after care, consider the fabrics used, will it wash up well ? Hope this helps.

Thanks for the wonderful answers, ladies. Lots to think about.

It occurs that the change in the male female contacts in ballroom may well have accelerated back problems for the ladies
In my time couples stood square on to each other with contact and control primarily via the diaphragm and the man's Palm of right hand,support and control were positive and most certainly led to correct shoulder and hip angled movement
The modern change to moving the female to the right hip of the man removed 100 percent support and control
Proof of control loss can be seen in gaping and false female top shaping
Lots more could be said

I fully expect to support myself when I dance. I place no weight at all in my partners hand nor do I expect him to propel me around the room. Ladies these days have a very active role to play. The lady should connect with the man, but they both have a responsiblity to maintain connection. The lady should dance up, to and from the man whilst remaining on balance. Ladies that receive correct tuition will ( or should not) produce a false/bad shape. The body will be upright, as it has to, for her weight to be over her feet, but the extention will occur out to the left, head following the line of the breastbone and neck. The lady, once in hold with correct posture should be able to dance all( or most) of her steps on her own...out of hold, she should not need the man for balance.

But the man leads and original in hold allowed control where in deed all you say is true but with the modern move away from the hand by diaphragm signals/control you have looser control from the male lead
With modern dance showing decidedly more gaping then control has obviously suffered

Mind you I am dated in beliefs but I do believe the modern picture suffers

I have been taught that there are as many as 15 points of contact and connection and I never have any trouble following my partner even it we do not dance our "routine". Indeed I can remember many times at the British at Blackpool, where due to the extreme numbers on the floor, we have not had the space to dance what we had planned, so I have had to follow for complete dances not knowing at all, what groups he was dancing.
As lady it is important to always keep your back up and towards your partner, supporting yourself, so by paying attention to the structure too, keeping connection is far easier. With a fast and complicated QS, it is always going to be more difficult though.
I understand what you say, but I suppose everything include dance, evolves and todays competitive dancesport is very different from what it was a few years back.

the British hurley burley and other major comps were as much a problem in early rounds for judges as they were for dancers
The trick with so few bars of music was to make early route via your friendly judges simply showing them face and number before making for the new or awkward for you judges and try to give them a show
Truth to tell early rounds were of such few bars of music for dancers and judges know how of competing was essential
Later rounds of course were more enjoyable and allowed expression in floor covering and style in movement

The rules are different now and they play for quite a time minimum. In the old days, the early rounds were a "bloodbath" and you just hoped you were seen before the music stopped ! Felt sorry for those couples not so skilled in floorcraft. Frustrating for them.

You hoped of course but as described better wth the plan to show number and face to friendly judges and attempt where time allowed a quick show for for the unknown judges

Jennifer F added to what I had said, and described perfectly what to look for when having a new dress made.

However, one other thing neither of us mentioned, but is also worth thinking about, colour! In a big competition where there are many couples, I always think white, or a bright colour such as yellow will get a dancer noticed much easier than a pastel colour or black. On a small floor where there are less couples competing, then the darker or paler colours work fine. So always plan the dress to suit the occasion.

I wonder if Jennifer would agree?

The style of ballroom, like Latin, has changed immensely in the last few years. The top hold is now "as big as possible", the angle of the couples no longer 'straight on' as they used to be. Some people like the changes, some people hate them. The thing is, nothing stays the same.

As for the gapping that occurs - especially with quickstep... About 5 years ago I was talking to the - then - world professional ballroom champion - and dared to mention this was happening. He agreed, but said that she sheer speed and intricacy of modern choreography, compared to years ago, make 100% body contact, 100% of the time, virtually impossible. [Who was I to disagree?]

Whether we all like the changes or not is just a matter or opinion, and everyone is entitled to their likes and dislikes. I personally like the modern picture, but quite accept it isn't everyone's taste.

Yes of course, but I;m tempted also to say that your dancing should speak for you, but yes, perhaps if all couples are of a similar standard you have to do what it takes to be seen and noticed. I did say in my reply, amongst other things,that colour and decoration is important, I always like to have a dress that is "different" and has the wow factor. As they say, first impressions are very important.

Yes, you did. Sorry, I think I read it too quickly.

I agree that the dancing should speak for itself, but it isn't always so simple, is it? I mean, Blackpool, Bournemouth, and the big foreign venues especially, it is so easy to get missed among so many. The other thing is, whether rightly or wrongly, dancing is very cosmetic. Someone going on the floor looking as if dress isn't right, the shoes are grubby, not enough time and attention to hair and make-up, and never mind how they dance, they will not get marked.

We were at the Professional Rising Star event in Bournemouth some years ago, and there was this fabulous Italian female Latin dancer. But oh my, how she was turned out! Hair all over the place (not in a "designed" sort of mess!!), a hole in one of her shoes, and worst of all she had torn her tatty looking grubby dress and held the hole together with a great large safety pin. This was the first round, so she couldn't pretend it had torn earlier in the day. She didn't make the 2nd round, but dance-wise she should have made the semi. Were the judges right or wrong? I thought they were right - it is surely a matter of respect for a dancer to appear clean and tidy.

Gosh what a good question! I think I'm inclined to agree with you. There is no excuse for dirty clothing or holes in shoes. I think its very disrespectful to your partner, fellow competitors, to the judges and anyone involved. I am so surprised that someone should turn out like that. I do take a long time to get ready but that;s because I owe it to myself and my partner to look as good/ well groomed as I can be. Image is so important isn't it.

Absolutely. And perhaps without deliberately meaning to the judges will judge "the dress". If there's 2 dancers equal in ability, etc., but one is wearing a couture dress (i.e ChrisAnne or similar) and the other is wearing a dress that looks homemade, the "couture" dancer will win every time.

If anyone is interested in watching some fab dancing. Please log onto DSI London TV and for a small charge you can watch live streaming from the UK Championships ( open to the world) from Bournemouth. Highly recommended.