Why do some famous dancers dance with a wide legged stance?
Some famous dancers became famous for reasons other than their exquisite dance techniques. Some of them, as a direct result of dancing “a la folk” as it were, have huge, gnarly, flat feet with aching arches, bunions, and Plantar Fasciitis. If this is O.K. with you, then continue to dance any way you please! However, if you are one of those few dancers aiming for a professional career in dance, you must place your feet on the floor lightly, correctly, and dance with the torso from the dance center to reach the heart of the Belly Dance. Will dancing in high-heeled shoes like the Lebanese Cabaret Dancers ruin my feet? No! If you are dancing, 80 to 90% of your dance on demi-toe and the dancer’s platform, then your heel of your shoe will rarely hit the floor except when you are dancing the Hawanim, or stationary part of your dance, to the taxim music. For many years, I danced wearing silver or gold ballroom shoes, each pair of which had to be discarded with worn-out toes and pristine heels.
