Very little has been said about the setup between the man and lady and the obvious changes that have taken place in the past few years. I was always taught that as the man in the arms raised position my left elbow was level with the rear of my rib cage and my right the front. Now being taught is that both elbows are level with the front of the body. With the former I always felt slightly twisted. Ladies are much futher to the left in the man's arm, which makes for a straightish right arm for the lady, if the arm is not more straight than bent then you are really old fashioned.( look at any IDSF final ). The left hand. The left hand sits more towards the outside of man's upper arm. Again don't take my word for it , go and look. This is so different than when I first took lessons It has even altered the position of the ladies feet in relation to the man's completely. And I certainly was never told that there is a different contact point in the Quickstep than in the other dances.

IDSF finals are starting to look rather ugly actually. But it's a sport now, who cares about art or grace.

Anonymous....it's a sport, but artisitic interpretation is the prime object still.
At the risk of sounding like a cracked gramohpone record (what's the modern equivalent, i wonder?) dare i mention that while lloking up Alex Moore's book on the slow waltz natural turn, i read the introductory stuff, including the description (and picture) of the hold and setup. He says the man stands directly in front of the lady, that in practice this isn't possible, so the man has to be a little to the side (9th edition, this is).
Things are changing.
THe elbow thing - i spent a long time trying to get my left elbow in line with my back. In the process i develoed an impingement injury in my shoulder, which took a full 18 months to recover. THen i heard that the elbow should be in line with the cnetre of the body (not the front of the rib-cage). This central position is HUGELY more comfortable.
There are different views on this obviously (as in most things). I just wonder what most judges are looking for.

Phil. I used to have a book which inside had a back view of Victor Silvester with his sister who was his partner. The picture was taken in his hey days World Champion and all. He was a well built man. In ballroom position all that was seen of his partner was one curl of her hair over his right shoulder. The rest was completely hidden. My how its changed.