The Center of Support (COS) is the effective contact area through which a dancer’s body transfers force to the floor. Unlike the Center of Gravity (COG) — which is a point — the COS is a region, usually shaped by the anatomical geometry of the foot or feet.

In balance mechanics, a dancer is stable when the COG projection falls within the COS boundary. If the COG moves outside this boundary, torque begins to act on the system, and instability increases — often manifesting as a wobbly moment, an overcorrection, or in advanced cases, a glorious fall from grace.

💡 The COS is not just the sole of the foot.
It includes toes, heel pad spread, and even skin contact deformation, especially during rolling or foot pressure changes.

🦶 Related Concepts

• [[Foot]]
• [[Center of Gravity]]
• [[Poise]]
• [[Tipping Point]]
• [[Torque]]

🔬 Application in Dance

In Standard and Smooth styles, dancers use subtle body shaping and foot articulation to shift the COS without dramatically moving the foot. This allows for energy preparation, directional intention, and even sway compensation — all while appearing effortless.

For example:

• A Heel Turn often involves shifting the COS back over the heel.
• In Rise & Fall, the COS dynamically changes shape and pressure distribution, especially during foot rise.

🧪 Visual Model

See: biomechanics/foot-cos-visual.md (or embed a visual here later).

"The best dancers don’t just stay over their foot — they know exactly where they’re standing within the foot."
— The Great Philosopher Nandhra