both of us are very tall, - nearly the same height when my partner is in heels - and our teacher is looking for a 2-4 inch height difference (in dancing rig-out)as this is the 'ideal' difference (if there can be an ideal in such a subjective thing)
I agree with KC on the hip height thing and it's important that partners should feel very comfortable together.

Hi everybody~

I am currently looking for a male to dance international with but the problem is finding someone who is tall enought for me. I am 5'10 without heels and with the heels makes me about 6'0. How should I go about finding a partner?

thx

Just going from memory I believe that on a sight called The London Connection which is no longer on line. I believe the founders joined Burn the Floor. There was a formular which I copied for the height of hips between a male and female partnership. There is a ideal formula.If I find it I will submit it. There are probably other places that this information can be found for those who are in a hurry. It is the height of the hips that is of the most importance. Happy Dancing.

I think partners should be able to look at each other in the eye (although that's not where you look when you dance). I have the opposite problem - I'm 4'9" (with heels about 5')and finding a partner is very difficult. I've danced with men 6' tall and found it a problem. That's one of the reasons I stopped dancing.

I am just curious, but can a really good leader/follower compensate for a height difference? If so, how much?

Also, for Nicole, I have noticed that a lot of people on this site's classified section and www.dancepartner.com do specify height in their personal ads. Failing that, I'm almost 6' so you could always look me up if you are ever in WI or NJ .

Well, Nicole, I'm 6'0, and the reason I'm asking all these questions about ideal height is because I'm looking for a dance partner! The only small problem is that I'm in Europe...

Even the lady is the same height (w/h.h) as the male partner will be looks OK, if she knews how to bent her self little more.

The ideal hight for international Standard, the lady should be at least 1 inch shorter with the high heels.

IMHO...the difference is in the hips, not the height. I am 5'7" and have danced with many men about my height and slightly (1-2") taller. I have long legs for my height. It is my experience that even a man who is taller than me will be uncomfortable to dance standard with if his hips are lower than mine (IE, he is long-waisted). I can indeed compensate through the knees (but NOT by "bending" through the back, bad form!) but this is not ideal if I were looking for someone to dance with all the time! Vice versa, it is uncomfortable to dance with too great of a height difference as well. The hips act as a hinge, or a door, or a pin, dbetween partners, depending on who you ask But in all cases, the hips must be in contact to make an effective partnership.

For most body types I would expect that the lady would fall between .5"-4" shorter in heels than her partner. Slot of men dance partners 6" shorter than them, but I've seen a lot of ladies who appear to riding the thighs of their tall partners (not so attractive IMHO)...which makes connection a lot tougher. However, there will always be exceptions! Look for a partner that feels "right"...or at least comfortable from the moment that you line up in dance position.

Good luck, KC