Walking in snowshoes is like walking in swim fins. You have to raise your legs high. Most beginners end up on the ground but don't give up. Make your movements exaggerated and deliberate and it will come quickly. The shoes have cleats on the bottom, so it's easy to climb hills.
Many people like to carry ski-poles to help with stability.
Which means you walk duck foot to get the most traction. If you're daring, you can take huge leaps when descending steep slopes in soft snow. It's probably the closest most of us will get to the sensation of moonwalking. To start out, pick somewhere flat - Mount Rose Wilderness would be ideal. Other great places in the area are the Tahoe Rim Trail to Watson Lake and the area at the top of Tahoe Donner in Truckee.