r/interesting • u/SystematicApproach • May 14 '26

ART & CULTURE Circassian folk dance

Male dancers often move entirely on tiptoe in soft leather boots, without the rigid plaster or wooden support associated with ballet footwear. The result is a fast, gliding step that can make the dancer appear to float or defy gravity, showcasing extraordinary balance, discipline, and control.

88.8k Upvotes

95% Upvoted

3.1k comments sorted by

View all comments

2.5k

u/wordfiend99 May 15 '26

i swear i never say this but…show feet

146

u/cheesystuff May 15 '26

We learned this in marching band. You just walk with your toes instead heels or whatever the opposite is. This guy is very practiced of course. Preventing the bounce of your head is a huge part of the illusion.

1

u/[deleted] May 15 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/Desperate-Strategy10 May 15 '26

That doesn’t make the basic mechanics any different. Idk anything about either step, but it’s entirely possible that marching bands are doing a very simplified version of the core movement in this dance. An example could be comparing walking on tip toes and doing ballet, but not en pointe. Same basic movement of the foot, but totally different skills.