contact points .... or connections or are they the same thing?

OK , i want to say one point would be just below the ladys breasts to the mans right chest, this is a connection point... well wait, now i am getting myself confused. a contact point would be any area where there is contact between a man and a woman correct? that being true, the ladys left hand is not really a conncection but merely, just a contact.. someone pleae correct me if i am wrong. i want to say that another connection is the ladys right hand in the mans left hand. so i am guessing that there are three major contact points? ( If i am reading it corectly) unless you count the ladys left hand as contact, then there would be four!

In answer to your question.

An exerpt from "TheFryingDragon" posted in this web site about the basic points of contact. Full text can be found in:

https://www.ballroomdancers.com/Message_Board/view_messages.asp?MsgID=9153&PageNum=1

"...To lead properly in closed position (smooth/standard) requires a good understanding of the five "points" of contact. These are: (1) the man's left hand w/ lady's rt. hand, (2)rt. palm around the lady's left back (scapula) area(allowing for height and so on), (3)right forearm (under ladies left upper arm), (4) lady's left hand on the man's right upper arm (below the deltoid) and (5) the body.

The combination of these points form the basis of the language that the lady must listen for, interpret, and execute--factoring the general direction of movement as a couple, swing, balance, and so on. Sometimes you can omit words in sentences and still convey the proper context of the message. Thus with just one point of contact you could lead a lady into a turn. Leading is simply communication. Good communication requires good sentence structure. Word choice can make a sentence elegant and supremely understandable. Sloppy words create garbled messages. Same thing. For instance, holding the left hand/arm correctly makes it easy to follow."

I am always making a comparison between how I was first taught and how it is today. It has changed dramatically over the years. The contact point between the man and lady is much higher leaving a lot of freedom down below. One teacher pointed out that it would be possible to pass your arm below the hips between the couple without making contact with any part of the bodies. The amount of pressure between the two bodies. A former Rising Stars Blackpool winner told us that if we placed our palms together with our partner and push we have ten out of ten presure. Now ease of untill it is below two. That is so different than when I first learnt. The feet between the partnership are much further apart. Before the lady legs were under the man. She was also encouraged to lean her head back putting too much weight over the heels. Incidentally some teachers who have not had a lesson themselves in some twenty years or so, are still teaching that way.

it is possible for the lady to tilt her head back without weight being transferred onto her heels. Good examples in some of these pictures- http://www.dancesport.uk.com/photos/index.htm

Phil. This is an interesting point . Does the ladies head being held over the back affect whether her weight is over the heels or not. Ask the lady in question exactly where her weight is, there is your proof. What you can see on video is a lady curving to her left side and not just back. There are two curves here, one with out the other is useless. ( From Richard Gleaves Video).
An example of the ladies position was given like this. She is in the corridor of train just arriving at the station. On the platform is somebody she doesn't want to see her. The window is 1/4 of the way down. She stands sideways stretches her sides so that just one eye , the left one is peeping out the window . And there you have it. She has plenty of shape up the top without being down on her heels.

I wonder if someone could expand this topic specifically to the international tango. We have been working on the body positions with our instructor.

For lady the frame is quite different. Rather than a more backward poise, I am now very forward, with my weight quite forward. To me it almost feels like an up and over while quite behind my partner. I am still trying to figure this out because it is so different from say waltz or foxtrot frame. I also wonder in competition how to switch from the frame of waltz to tango, quickly.

We are also working on a closed hip in a promenande position....hard!

Tango. Your back is straight, one former British Professional Champion said that he likes to feel as though he had a tail like a dragon straight down to the floor touching the floor and bent along the floor. This will keep the back straight. The right shoulder and hip are leading. The knees are bent and stay at that same height, ( no rise and fall)
The knees are veered into each other caused by the heavy right shoulder lead.
The feet are placed into position and not slid. The lady is more to the mans right side. As a lady, on the first step of a Link turn your right toe inwards. If you feel that you are moving against the LOD on the Link and feel like you are on a hinge, you are correct. Stay on the hip though and stay back. It is a good idea to do a Link with your partner, then go behind your partner and see if you like their position, and have your own checked. And whatever you do keep your chin a little higher than normal, thats for both man and lady. Look arrogant, its all part of the act. I love the Tango.