At my studio's Friday night parties, there are always more women than men - and we women are always grateful when asked to dance. One gentleman, who is a very good dancer, frequently asks me to dance the Tango with him. The question I have is in that setting, how close of a hold is appropriate? When I Tango with my regular instructor, he holds me close - hip to hip - but usually in the social dance party setting, a looser, no contact type of hold is used by the gentlemen. I enjoy dancing in the contact position, but don't want to give anyone the wrong idea.

toetap99. There is a lot more to it than this. But first. The palm of the mans hand should be over the ladies spine which puts the fingers past the spine. If anyone tries to hold in any other way it is a compromise and is not correct. Also if they bend their knees they are not trying to get at you. Thats how it is supposed to be.