Jonathan. I started a new thread here after reading your excellent article on "Posture for the Lady". and not wishing to cover it. I think your pharagraph seven is very important and should be understood.
Now the question. When I first learnt to dance the ladies were told to take their bust off the man. So they bent the spine not only to their left but back also. Today I can see that the ladies bust is in contact with the man and there is more freedom below. In other words is the contact between the man and lady higher than in those olden days.And if we go down to the feet. Is the ladies feet slightly, I call it off set in relation to the mans. Thank you in advance.

Perhaps I haven't been around long enough, but as far as I can remember the points of contact have always been taught the same. In terms of the vertical placement of the contact point, I think of the "corner" rib (If you follow the outline of the ribs from the sternum downward, you will feel a point at which the angle changes abruptly outward -- This is what I'm referring to as the "corner rib". Any anatomy students have the proper terminology for us?)

From above that point, you can strecth away. The area below that point are often also in contact, but do not need to be at all times. Especially when moving backward, it's important to allow the hips to crease and absorb the movement, and this can loosen the contact below the rib slightly.

Maybe, but I don't approach it in that way. When the man's and lady's feet are both closed, the offset is so small that it may not even be visible. When the feet are apart it's more noticeable. And certain movements, especially those with a lot of rotation, increase the degree of offset. So to approach the offset from the feet is extremely unreliable. It's best to think of the offset strictly from the torso, and let the feet be the result of that.

Regards,
Jonathan

The part I am interested in is. I've just been reading this. That the right side of the chest of both should be in contact. The way I was originaly taught was the ladies right bust level with the man's shirt buttons. Then she takes it off. Which results in the man's right side more to to the ladies left.And not right side to right side. Thanks for the answer.

I'm not sure I'd call lady's left side to man's right the old way so much as simply the confused way. For an example, see the standard couple sometimes shown in the upper left corner. It's perhaps not too bad if we call that a line, but the degree to which the man's left side and lady's right side are open is not suitable for ordinary movement.

Just looking at the images that are sometimes in the top left hand corner. Looking at the man's rear foot and the ladies LF the position looks to be as if comencing into a Throwaway Oversway. The angle that the photo was taken can be deceiving. The man's left hand apears to be low, but a line drawn across puts it at about eye level with the man about to arch his back, which we all know the Throwaway is the only step that this will happen on. I doubt that it is a Contra Check or a Travelling Contra because the legs are too far apart with the man's rear toe pointed. Which after all that leads me to believe it is not suitable to be used as an example for poise or posture.

"Just looking at the images that are sometimes in the top left hand corner. Looking at the man's rear foot and the ladies LF the position looks to be as if comencing into a Throwaway Oversway. The angle that the photo was taken can be deceiving. The man's left hand apears to be low, but a line drawn across puts it at about eye level"

Eye level is a very poor reference, as it depends on body proportions that are by no means constant from individual to individual. Much better is that both of the man's elbows must be at the same height (except perhaps in tango).

Anyway, part of the reason the elbow looks low is that this left side is too open/back/away from the lady, which gives us an odd perspective on that elbow.

"with the man about to arch his back, which we all know the Throwaway is the only step that this will happen on."

Wrong on some many counts... Arch is absolutely to be avoided in all situations, especially the throwaway. Most of what you see in a good throwaway originates lower in the body - the actual shape in the back is small. In general, presented stretch is good and lines have more of it that moving positions, but the throwawy is not exactly unique in that regard.

"with the man's rear toe pointed."

Maybe he's trying to hard to dance to the very tip of the toe

On the Throwaway Oversway the man arches his back and looks over the top of the ladies head. This is the only step where this happens. Please look and all will be revealed.

Part 2. If the man's elbows are in the correct position and the length of the arm from the elbow is normal the height of the hand will be at about eye level, and should be midway between the two people.

"On the Throwaway Oversway the man arches his back and looks over the top of the ladies head. "

You are right in that this is what it LOOKS like he does, but it is NOT what he actually does to accomplish it.

Instead, the shape is mainly created by the way that his hip folds "into" his left groin. Most of the shape comes from this positioning of the torse relative to the legs, NOT from arching the back, which is always a VERY BAD IDEA!

The arching of the back is to counter balance the action of the lady.