I have the very same problem. Except that my wife and my major dance partner, (my 17 year old daughter), plus both our instructors are all asking for me to do the closed position. (Touching at the hip) However here is the deal. At regular dance social functions I always do open position. At DanceSport functions I am moving toward dancing in closed position. Closed works way better if the lead knows what he is doing. Open is very social and polite. Bottom line: its difficult to talk to your neighbor's wife about cutting the grass when your closer to her than her husbond was the night before. Right?? ha ha