shift body weight onto the foot . It is interesting to note that many Western movies include commentary about “ tracking people by their boot tracks ” as Native Americans wore soft moccasins similar to the Middle Age soft leather shoes and walk leaving no footprints .
Body posture is affected by footfall and gait . With the “ ballerina soft touch , gentle weight shift ” type of walk - the torso naturally is held erect as you gently step forward and your body leans upright and back until you shift body weight to that foot . Although the torso is erect , it is not rigid . The erect torso allows for a separation of footsteps and legs from the dancers ’ torso – recall the light floating footfall of ballerinas across a stage . The torso is in a different position with shoes with rigid soles and heels . With the “ heavy heel first walk ” - the torso crumples and leans forward - the “ C-shaped spine and torso ” happens and people will have sunken chests and slumping posture . The body posture becomes more rigid from the footfall up the legs and into the torso .
How Posture and Footfalls Impact Dance Movement
Think about body mechanics and movement quality and you begin to understand why some dancers find it difficult to shift weight easily in movement combinations . Or , why some dancers may feel tightness and locked parts of their body feel rigid when they move . They may find it difficult to layer shimmies with dance combinations or find it difficult to perform undulations and body isolations simultaneously during step movement combinations . And , with some dance troupes that require dancers to perform in high heels ( even ballroom dance shoes designed for dance ) – understand how posture and body mechanics change when dancing in heels – it ’ s even more important to dance with “ softly bent knees ”. Something to think about and work on to develop dance troupes that display the same beautiful movement quality in performance among all members of the troupe .
Experiment to Understand How Footfall Affects Posture
Body Posture and Footfall Styles Create Different Movement Quality
Based on this information about footfalls and body posture - I watched performances at a local belly dance festival held at a community center with a raised stage at a 4 ’ height above the audience . From this vantage point I could see a vast difference between the movement quality of dancers on stage . The raised stage allowed me to observe the “ footfalls = torso position ”. And , the body posture and footfall style resulted in either graceful movement with toes first footfall or the stiff posture-fighting-gravity and the awkward or lack of body movement possible with the heel first footfall .
Especially watching troupes dance - the difference was notable . Body size , height , and weight didn ’ t make a difference in the formula of “ dancers moved gracefully , light on their feet , and torsos would easily undulate ” - if they danced with footfall forward toes first . Those who danced with either “ heels falling first , and / or full stomping feet ” - had poor posture and didn ’ t move well or beautifully . Fascinating - same choreography , but vastly different motion and movement expression . Truly either beautiful / graceful or pedestrian / heavy , and awkward movement styling unique to each individual .
We have all experienced the difference in posture and rigidity , and the feeling our body has when either “ skipping along ” or “ walking down an incline ”. When we walk down an incline , we naturally adjust our posture pulling our torso more erect with shoulders back and walking with bending knees . When skipping we engage our body core , and we stand straighter as a result of the physical reality of skipping on toes .
In fact , as an experiment : try skipping with a flat footfall . What do you experience ? You will likely note how much more effort it takes to skip . There is much more strain on the knees and the back is jolted as you change weight between steps . Why ? Because skipping requires a “ roll through footfall with weight on toes ” – as you skip you naturally incorporate a “ releve ” roll up to your toes . Ah hah ! So that ’ s why we have more bones in our feet and arches than in other parts of our bodies . You ’ ll likely find yourself laughing at the ludicrous posture and difficult nature that results from this experiment and you feel as though you are clowning around .
Back to how footwear impacts gait . Interestingly , the term “ clown ” comes from the Scandinavian word for clown “ cognate ” which means clumsy . Note Western clowns in circuses wear exaggerated footwear , and clowns at rodeos wear cowboy boots and move with heavy footfall because
May 2021 � The Belly Dance Chronicles 35