Marcus Hilton speaking just about the mans right arm and the position of the right arm. Slide the right arm up and into the juction under the ladies armpit. The man should now move his right elbow to his right making sure that the elbow remains in front of the right shoulder. Connect right side to right side. The right elbow should be higher than the right wrist, and the right hand should be lower than the elbow, thus giving a diagonal slope from the right elbow to the tips of the fingers. Remember the right elbow should at all times be lower than the right shoulder. The end result should be a perfect balances connection from the mans right arm and wrist and hand to the ladies shoulder blade , armpit and under arm.

He's just reciting Bill or the late Bobby Irvine. Who recited the late major Eric Hancox. Who recited the late Henry Jacques. Nowt's new.

Anon 1. Yes. But how many remember.How many can remember that your right arm doesn't start at the shoulder, it starts from the middle of your back, or so you should imagine. This stops a person from bending the shoulder out of line. and of course there is the other side too.

If you want a good frame keep thinking of the position of your elbows or hands. Lots of today's top dancers received that advice who will no doubt pass it on has THEIR tip.

In the past, it was taught that the man's right hand should sit snugly under the lady's shoulder blade. This was at a time when the lady's stance was more squarely in front of the man.
In recent times, the man is more to his left (relative to the lady) and the more modern positioning of the right wrist and hand follows from this. Nowadays, the teaching is all about contact with the right wrist, and the right hand just nestles wherever it finds itself as a result. Things do change. That's progress.

Phil. Just a slight correction here. The lady is the one who fills the space to her left and she should stay there. Just something on imagining. For the sway Waltz, think of a triangle being squashed which will cause a curve, up and over on the straight side.

silly, you're both right, both dancers own the space to their own left!

Anonymous. What I am saying is I don' t move. The lady comes to my right side as if she is going straight past me. Then we make all the neccesary conections, I then send her more to my right putting her weight slightly back which adds to her shape. The problem is staying in that shape and not losing it.

Don
I understand what you mean by "the lady fills her space". It's a visualising thing, but these can be very important.
I'm not sure what you mean by the "sway waltz" comment.

No expert. All fine if you are the perfect match. Don't forget to swing the elbows forward and up into position and not just out like many people do ,thereby tensioning and shortening the neck. Dave