SO my new partner is about an inch shorter than me. With heels I will gain another inch over him. We want to compete and show. We have no issues on the floor because of hte height difference but we also understand what a judge will think. How much of a problem do you think it wil be in competition? We are very dedicated and trying ot find ways to make myself appear smaller and what not. What do you guys think? I don't want to lose this partner, we have amazing chemistry and move very well together. Should we go for it and just take it as a challenge or move on to other partners?

This from an adjudicator ( me )-- it really has little, if any , bearing on my marking.
There have been world champions etc. who have had quite similar to you , differences in height .

Soften your knees as much as you can, and keep a good poise. This will minimise any 'problem' with the height difference.
You really should look lower than the man in tango, as this is part of the character of the dance.

NOT good advice-- you may end up with the " sitting " look.

You should always dance to whom you are, no amount of lowering or rising to the toes, will go un-noticed .

The adjustment is best served, by the way you position yourself , in relationship to your partner .

Have coached numerous couple with height differences , and a compromise can usually be affected .

My partner and I are in the same situation. With heels, I am almost 2 inches taller. We were used to competed in American style (rhytm and smooth) and it never caused us much problem we were used to do pretty well in competition. We started competing in International last year. The only dance in Latin that is giving us trouble is Paso Doble but our coach is working things out to try not to make the height difference show too much. So far, our results at competitions have been pretty good. In Standard, it is another story. Because as the girl I have longer legs then my partner our waist level is not the same which result sometimes in a position and contact problem, as phil.samways mention, I really have to soften my knees. I also have to work hard with my posture and how to place my head, it might sounds weird, but for a couple without a height problem, if the posture and the head are good but not perfect, it will not show as much as a couple with a height difference.

When we started competing, we had the same concerns, but if your technique is good and you work on your style and even with a height difference you make it look good on the floor. It won't make much of a difference. So go for it and enjoy yourself!

Estrella

I'm 5'11" tall barefoot whcich makes me taller than nearly all of men I dance with BEFORE I put shoes on! It has been my experience that if I keep my technique and he keeps his, the height doesn't matter a rip. The stereotype of the man having to be taller than the woman gets in the way of some realy good partnerships happening. If you connect well with someone and there is good chemistry and you move well together, then go with it. Don't try to "shorten" yourself. You can't do that anway, unless someone removes your shins or some such . Dance who you are not what stereotypes say you should be. That's just marketing.