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Footwork

Jun 4
2 min read

Footwork = Part(s) of the foot touching the floor. May be marked “Foot off floor” for aerial positions.


Ball

• Mostly Tango (no rise/fall, replaces Toe)

• Swivels with Foot Flat, no rise

• Heel free, no body rise → e.g. rear foot in Promenade Cross


Ball Heel

• Ball touches first, then Heel lowers

• Tango backward steps

• Step 2 of Reverse figures / Reverse Turn (Leader)

• Foot closes front/rear in Tango

• Parallel Closes in Two Steps


Inside Edge of Ball

• Only inner side of Ball touches floor

• Placed or tap steps

• Weight‑free foot closing in Tango Swivel


Inside Edge of Ball Heel

• Inner Ball touches first → lowers to inner edge of whole foot

• Penultimate step: Tango Reverse Turn (Follower)

• Tango backward steps with Side Lead

• Turning Rock in Tango


Heel

• Forward walking step — no rise afterwards

• Whole foot settles naturally as weight transfers

• Used in: Pas Allè, Tango forward steps, Saunter forward steps without rise


Heel Ball

• Forward walk: Heel → whole foot → pressure on Ball

• Used for turning steps; Tango Follower’s Rotary Chassé step 3


Heel Toe

• Forward step: Heel → rise through foot → Toe

• For “commence rise” / “rise end of step”


Pressure

• Partial weight only, no full transfer

• Toe: Balancé, Pas Glissade, Pas Glissé

• Ball: used in Swivels

Toe Heel Toe / Ball Heel Ball

• For backward‑starting movements

• Used in Pivots; backward steps with rise


Heel Toe Heel / Heel Ball Heel

• For forward‑starting steps that turn backward

• Used in Pivoting Action


Toe

• Only Toe touches floor, Heel raised

• Used in rise, pointing/tapping


Toe Heel

• Backward steps: Toe touches first, then Heel lowers


Toe Heel

• Start on Toe → lower Heel as weight transfers

• Used: side steps, standard closes, forward Glissé, Pas Marché


Toes of both Feet

• Both toes down, heels raised

• Waltz step 3 (Rotary/Progressive Swivel)


Release Toe

• Backward step: let front Toe lift, keep Heel down


Inside edge of Toe

• Inner big toe only


Outside edge of Toe

• Outer/little toe side only → for pointing


Whole Foot

• Full foot flat

• Tango side‑step close; Promenade/inward/outward turns


Inside edge of Foot

• Inner edge from toe to heel

• Tango side steps (non‑turning)

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