Hello Jonathan and Dragon,
I wanted to respond to you both to thank you for your posts. Dragon, I will check out that video you mentioned; thank you for the tip...it's much appreciated.

Jonathan, thank you for taking the time to write such a long and thoughtful response. I will try the exercise you suggest. I also understand what you are saying about wanting a "quick fix" approach to my question.

I was a professional musician (instrumental) prior to starting dance. I had never danced at all until I started taking a class 2 years ago, and then started taking private dance lessons 1 year ago. I think my frustration about my arms is that I can see what I want them to look like when I watch other dancers but I'm not where I want to be yet. I'm learning that dancing, especially without any background in moving my body, is something that takes time to develop. On an intellectual level, I know this from having another musical skill. I'm also a somewhat shy person, so learning to be comfortable with the body movement is something that is not natural to me (but is a challenge that I am enjoying very much).

Sometimes I get impatient that I do not grasp new concepts right away or that I can't do the movement correctly right away, but I also know that in time, the movements that feel awkward become easier...I have experienced this already in the time I have been dancing.

I do understand what you are saying about the arms being an extension of the body movement. And my instructor has mentioned this to me and I'm starting to feel this and can move them better than I could a few months ago, for example.

Your message reinforces for me that I need to be more patient and remember that developing this skill takes time. Part of the joy of dancing is when I finally can do something I've worked on. And I was just mentioning to my instructor the other day, that each time I get something, there is more and more and more to learn...

I never knew dancing was so involved and complex until I started doing it.
The pros make it look so easy...

In any event, thank you very much for the response...it was most helpful and much appreciated. I also wanted to tell you that I think the web site is a great resource for ballroom dancers. I have purchased a dress from the ads and this is the first time I posted to the discussion board, with very good results.

Thank you again!