Perhaps because it feels like flying, revels love the sensation of sending their free legs up and out through the air. This pleasure is so distracting that we sometimes forget that our free leg belong to the mark. Although we hope he enjoys it too…
The somewhat boring truth is that the grace and beauty of that flight depend on the alignment and strength of our base, and the integration of our legs and core muscles. More on that later.
While revels are taking so much pleasure in the motion of the free leg, what does it mean to say that it belongs to the mark?
whose free leg?
Remember that the mark communicates his intention for the next direction and the revel registers successful communication with projection of the free leg. A responsible mark will not proceed without the verification provided by sensing that she has indeed projected in his intended direction. Having done so, an advanced mark may then test the quality of signal-response by playing with that projection, which enables delightful changes of direction, cute little taps, and other personal charms.
Likewise at the end of every step, the revel’s newly freed old base leg stretches toward its former position. This is her second projection and this projection too may be used by a creative leader in playful and interesting ways.
Whenever her leg is not bearing weight it should be responding to the mark. Revels who do this give the leader a sense of magic powers. He can create expressive actions with the slightest touch.
Revels might at first perceive this idea as taking away their own expressivity with the free leg. But beyond your gift to him lies a deeper pleasure, which is a luscious sense of
trust
Of course we are already trusting in the mark’s protection and attention. There’s more. There’s trusting yourself.
I find that almost all revels are more perceptive than they think. They worry about whether they’re getting it right, and they don’t notice that they almost always do. In fact, the worry interferes and this is why some marks tell revels “don’t think”. This makes us steaming mad, and I’ve finally articulated a response, but for now what I want to say is:
When you give your free leg to him, you free it to his power and this enables it to move more beautifully than you can imagine. If you keep it for yourself, the muscles near the joints stay tight and movement is limited. When you trust him to play with that beautiful leg of yours, really give it to him, you will find that he can multiply the transitions and shapes that he can create, and you’ll experience new delights as you feel and see your leg fly.
the font of grace
As I mentioned above, the beauty of the revel’s free leg’s motion comes from the strength of your base. (Anatomically, the psoas muscle works more strongly when the spine is stable.) If you are losing balance, one of the first things that happens is the muscles of your free leg tighten to counterbalance you. Right away, the flexibility and softness of your free leg is diminished.
Only when your base is aligned so that the muscles can work smoothly from foot to the top of your core, can your free leg relax into flexibility and responsiveness. Your base leg’s rib cage must be in front of your hip bone and positioned atop your base leg’s foot, not to one side or the other. Your base leg must always be in , all three joints should be moving infinitesimally toward extension from whatever position they’re in.
Just one caveat: Point Your Toe! The free leg’s toe should be pointed like a ballerina whenever possible (that’s all the time except once the foot is beginning to accept transfer of weight. You can do this without inducing tension in your knee and hip joints.
using her free leg more
Marks may be surprised by the possibilities suggested here. And uncertain about how to exploit them. You have to realize that when you mark, you are manipulating her body directly. Supporting her base with one side of the embrace, imagine that her free leg’s foot is in your other hand. Without moving her base, move that hand around within a globe about 10cm diameter. Use your whole body to create this motion, not just the arm.
how to give him your free leg?
Once you have established your base, the muscles of your free leg should be quite relaxed. Imagine that the mark’s hands are connected to the top of your free leg’s psoas muscle. From that point, gently stretch your leg in the direction suggested by his body. Don’t try to finish the movement, just stretch there. Let him realize that he’s got control. Let it move with his slightest gesture. If you show him the gift, he will begin to play.
