Dance suggestion for a routine with lady slightly taller than me

[VronskyWasSoVain]

For one of my dance routines coming up, I'm most likely gonna be dancing with another instructor than my usual one. She's slightly taller than me.

This time around, I'm working on the following dances:

• Cha Cha
• Waltz
• Salsa
• Foxtrot

Which dances tend to be more suitable with a shorter man with a slightly taller lady? I'm 5'5 and she's around 5'6 or so. Plus she wears heels usually. So that makes her 5'7 or so.

I know it's a strange question as it obviously depends on how good I am. I started dancing only 6 months ago and I tend to be more advanced in Hustle and Swing but I want to work more on the dances I listed above.

My regular instructor is slightly shorter than me and more petite as I'm a relatively short Asian man and so we fit well together. However, the dance studio encourages doing routines with different instructors as it helps develop more skills as each instructor has different technique.

 

[Dr Dance]

If "slightly taller" only accounts for an inch difference, maybe two, then ALL dances are "suitable." If the height difference is six or more inches, then perhaps you might think about avoiding moves that expose these differences. An example would be a swing move where you would lead an under arm turn combination that might cause her to compromise her good posture. (Our goal as a leader is to allow our partners to look good, not awkward!)

That last paragraph caused a "yellow alert!" I found it to be "odd" that your studio wanted you to switch instructors because they have "different technique." Perhaps "different expertise" would be a more apt phrase. I have found that all instructors, even new ones, tend to be well rounded by having mastered, or at least experienced, a wide variety of dances. But all instructors have their specialties that they have "most mastered." Perhaps one dance that you would love to pursue with your current teacher is not her strength. Then switching to an instructor that specializes in "your dance of choice" may be a good thing.

This studio that encourages switching around with their instructors: Is this a general company policy, or were you specifically addressed by the studio owner or manager? If the latter is true, then they must have an ulterior motive for the switch. I would question this to be more informed before I could make such a decision.

 

[FancyFeet]

At your level and with the minimal height difference, any of those dances will be fine - especially with an experienced partner.

 

[VronskyWasSoVain]

If "slightly taller" only accounts for an inch difference, maybe two, then ALL dances are "suitable." If the height difference is six or more inches, then perhaps you might think about avoiding moves that expose these differences. An example would be a swing move where you would lead an under arm turn combination that might cause her to compromise her good posture. (Our goal as a leader is to allow our partners to look good, not awkward!)

That last paragraph caused a "yellow alert!" I found it to be "odd" that your studio wanted you to switch instructors because they have "different technique." Perhaps "different expertise" would be a more apt phrase. I have found that all instructors, even new ones, tend to be well rounded by having mastered, or at least experienced, a wide variety of dances. But all instructors have their specialties that they have "most mastered." Perhaps one dance that you would love to pursue with your current teacher is not her strength. Then switching to an instructor that specializes in "your dance of choice" may be a good thing.

This studio that encourages switching around with their instructors: Is this a general company policy, or were you specifically addressed by the studio owner or manager? If the latter is true, then they must have an ulterior motive for the switch. I would question this to be more informed before I could make such a decision.

I'm not switching instructors. The instructor that I take my private lessons and is my main teacher is gonna be the same.

3 times a year we have these performance routines though and so we're encouraged to perform with different instructors because it just gives everyone a more even work load otherwise you'll have one instructor doing too many performances throughout the night.

 

[Mr 4 styles]

Cha cha. Height doesn't matter much at all unless extreme differences.

 

[MaggieMoves]

Just focus on a lot of lateral movement vs. turns on the spot. Your center of gravity will be much closer together being close in height.