Does your partners height matter?

While dancing a progressive dance the other night, I was spun off from one partner and when I looked up to greet my next partner all I saw was a really nice black shirt! :lol: :lol:

This guy was huge, I barely reached his chest! Im not very tall at all and most guys are taller than me and Ive never found dancing with them akward, but with this guy I really had trouble with, I noticed he had to bend down ever so slightly to be able to dance in ballroom hold, it was difficult to dance the rotary chasses.

So that got me thinking...does height matter in competion? Would it be difficlut to dance at your best with someone who didnt "match" you in height? What would judges think?

Yes, absolutely height matters--but not just height in the absolute sense, the length of arms and legs. And the style you're dancing. But it's only one consideration, too--and in Pro/Am I think not the most important one.

Not that I do comps or anything , but lately I have finally realised the importance, or rather, the difference it makes in partners' heights.

I've always been one of the taller girls (defying genetic streotyping) but until CapricornDancer pointed out ("Shelley is the tallest salsera here, so she should be able to lead all of you with ease." :shock: Not that I lead).

Having spent years dancing with mostly Latinos, most of whom are either my height or shorter, I have unconciously 'lowered' my stance to fit with their heights.

In recent years I've started dancing with taller guys. They do feel different to dance with; as I now have to stand up tall & shift my centre of gravity slightly higher (depending on the style).

Dancing with taller guys who have longer arms means I can easily follow some complex Rueda/Casino moves sometimes *very* difficult with the others........

:lol: A friend of mine recently suggested that her roommate, who is around 6', come salsa dancing with us. Her first question--"Will there be any tall guys?"

I told my friend to say, "It's a salsa club. Frequented by people from Mexico, Columbia, Latin America. The tall guys are over 5' 7"!" And also, to add, "There are many shorter guys there dancing with taller women; they don't seem to mind the view."

Then on second thought, I figured that wasn't a good thing to add! :lol:

As a short leader it is harder to do some of these moves in rueda and salsa with taller followers. That is true.

I will freely comment on this topic. I am 5'8" WITHOUT my dance shoes, and living in Japan where most guys I dance with are like 5''7" or shorter. Don't mind it, but they seem to have difficulties when trying to get their hands over my head for spins and NEVER attempt to dip me (as I would crush them??? )...The "vertically challenged" latino guys I dance bachata with often try to snuggle their face in my "upper body pride", which so happens to be conveniently located at their nose-level :x

cocodrilo said:

The "vertically challenged" latino guys I dance bachata with often try to snuggle their face in my "upper body pride", which so happens to be conveniently located at their nose-level :x

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Mostly I don't, but some times I envy them their experience. :twisted: Being close to 6'3", I don't very often meet girls taller than myself.

I have on several occasions been 'dancing alone' though. :lol:

Hey, if the guy's cute, I don't mind :lol: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cocodrilo said:

Hey, if the guy's cute, I don't mind :lol: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Doesn't help me though, any girl that much taller than me would be a giant. :shock:

I have to settle for the normal closeness, but that ain't so bad either.

Btw: I'm cute! Just look at my picture!

Cudly too I take it? :lol:

SDsalsaguy said:

Cudly too I take it? :lol:

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Definitely

Sure it matters. You have to adjust.

Using a converter I figured I’ll be about 6,4’’
And I’ll dance with everybody.

It’s awesome to get the opportunity to dance with a lady with the same height as myself. I actually have to lift the arms leading the turns.

And the automatic reaching out for the hips or shoulder better have to be adjusted to the lady’s height.

Dancing with the smaller lady’s can need some adjustment to the usual patterns, where I have to go under the arms, or we are entangled in some fancy pattern. Then you improvise something. Throw her hand as a lead, instead of keeping the contact and loose balance.

From the salsa festival I saw sizes was no excuse at all. Tmy workshop teachers clearly showed that. The tall guy Moory danced with a small assistant, and there was nothing holding them back. And Charlemange could move and turn, even though he weights twice of what the doctors recommend. What an inspiration.

There are challenges to large height differentials. Either he's looking at my ta-tas, or he's really tall and has loooong arms/legs (which means, GENERALLY, larger moves/bigger steps)... There is definitely a range that works best for me but it's typically just the extremes I struggle with.

Im 6-1 I like women 5-5 5-8

mellody43 said:

or he's really tall and has loooong arms/legs (which means, GENERALLY, larger moves/bigger steps)...

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Did that too. But got the hint that it was my own fault the lady ended with a distance. Realising that, and adjusting the lead accordingly, so now I can keep her close.