I was just wondering if anyone has any good tips/advice/exercises on how I could improve my balance, particularly in the smooth dances? I had my first private lesson with my instructor this week and he said the only thing he wants me to really work on is balance. I too have noticed this before when I am out social dancing with other people and I think it has to do with 2 main things: 1) the fact that we women wear high heels makes it harder for us in general, 2) I'm 5'2" and most of the men I end up dancing with are usually a good 7+ inches taller than me so I find it harder for me to keep a nice frame and sometimes I even catch myself "hanging" onto the guy because of the height difference.

Other folks on this board can give you better advice about your posture than I can but I do want to point out one small detail.

Your feeling the need to "hang on" to your partner has very little if anything to do with your height difference.

As far as your high heels are concerned, do you normally wear them? Can you walk comfortably in them? If not then they're probably too high. Most women that I've met seem to be most comfortable dancing in 2 or 2-1/2 inch heels.

Don't try to use your high heels as "lifts" to compensate for what you perceive to be a lack of natural height. 5'2" is not that short.

jj

Core strength aids balance, as you probably are aware. I don't believe your height is an issue, either. And the advice about the high heels is right on target.
But I also don't know how strong you are. I have danced with women whose arm strength is so weak that their arms crumple on certain moves. It usually meant they were not very strong in the core area either and their dancing was a bit "wild" and disorganized because of it.
My wife often tells me that if I improved my core strength, a lot of the more difficult moves we try to do would be a lot easier. I tend to lose a little balance on occasion because at age 55 my midsection is much softer than it was 30 years ago.
But give that some consideration. Yoga, strength exercises and anything that works the core is a positive for a dancer and real plus for overall balance.

I would suggest you do the BASIC steps in what ever dance you were doing in your first lesson and do it SLOW and practice it at home or at the studio over and over until you feel that you can do it with your eyes closed and it becomes second nature with regard to your balance. Everyone has capacity for balance. Just concentrate on it. Everything else will fall into place, but it is always best to practice the BASIC steps in the begining.

BallroomOle99. Can you walk in a sraight line feet brushing up the floor on your own all heal leads.And then backwards. This is followed by with a partner in an extended hold both palms touching or right hand to right hand. If this proves difficult I would suggest there is a possibility that your legs are not under your body which is a very common fault by some ladies. When going backwards they send the left leg outwards and not straight back.. Alex Moore in his book written in 1936 mentions this. You could also stand with your back against a door just to check if you are standing up straight. You could also make yourself a Wopple Board which is half a tennis ball stuck to a piece of board, and balance on it. Last of all . your head weighs 16lbs. If its in the wrong place you haven't any chance of staying on balance. The Wobble Board will prove that. Good Luck.