Balance

Dancing is a sequence of forces that change in magnitude and direction almost constantly. Friction enables dancers to move across the dance floor, to have a frame and to move as one body. However, contact between the dancers and the floor that enables their movement is confined to a very small area, the surface area of the dancer's feet. If dancers do not have appropriate contact between themselves and the floor they may not be able to dance. To maintain this contact, dancers must have balance.

Balance is absolutely critical to dancing. Unless a particular dance move was meant to cause someone to lie on the ground, dancers desire only their feet to contact the floor.

Balance is created by keeping the dancer's center of gravity in vertical alignment with their feet. Now with those tricksy feet moving around all the time something must be done. The simple answer is for dancers to always stay on top of their feet. If the feet are not directly under the dancer, they are break dancing. Or performing martial arts. Regardless, it's probably not ballroom dancing.

The following diagram illustrates different positions dancer's feet may occupy and even how their weight is distributed under their center of gravity in order to maintain balance.

http://www.kgl-hga.eu/20100405_01/html/Ballroom_en_20100405_01_01.html

In this image, the star represents the center of gravity of the dancer. Shoes indicate the placement of feet and the blue shading shows the distribution of weight of the dancer. The center of gravity (star) is always in the center of the weight distribution (blue color) over the feet. Moving the center of gravity outside of the dancer's feet can have disastrous and painful results.

In some instances dancer's may rely on their partner for balance.

Have you ever grasped a partner's hands or wrists while the both of you spun around in a circle? If you were to let go, you would fly away from your partner in a straight line or fall over because the spinning motion caused your center of gravity to move out and away from your feet. During the time of spinning, you are relying on your partner to balance you. Many dancing spins are based on the same principle.

Glossary of Terms

Frame

Friction

Inertia

Bibliography