Two Common Mistakes that Must Be Avoided
1. Man’s right hip and lady’s left hip were traditionally seen as a connection point, and even seen as a point that has a leading and following function. But this is incorrect.
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2. Many dancers likes to hold their frame when doing solo practice. This is actually a bad habit.
The things described in this post as mistakes are just one person’s opinion of what a mistake is. Opinions differ widely on how to define "mistake." If one has been told by one's teacher, for example, that one's hip should connect to one's partner’s hip, then one should probably not follow advice on an online forum that says otherwise, without first checking with one's own teacher.
As to hip contact, my teacher has emphasized that he does want and expect that contact; although it is my
right hip, not my left, that is supposed to connect to his right hip. Interestingly, a quick google search using the terms “american smooth ballroom dance hold closed position hip contact” turns up several results saying that the leader’s right hip should connect to the follower’s right hip (just like my teacher told me). However, I understand that the correct points of contact/connection can be completely different in different dances and different styles. In my case, I choose to follow my teacher’s instructions, because I trust his many years of dancing and teaching experience more than my own google research (and certainly more than any opinions stated in this thread that appear to be unsupported by any evidence).
As to holding one’s frame during solo practice - again, I have been instructed by my teacher that I
should do this. The reasoning is that it helps me maintain my balance; it strengthens the muscles in my shoulders and arms and back; and it creates a habit for me of self-supporting my upper body, which ensures that I won’t “hang” on my partner when we dance together. I am certainly still a beginner in the world of ballroom dance (less than 2 years of lessons), but even in such a short period of time, my personal experience is that those reasons have proven to be valid. My frame, and my ability to dance while holding my own frame, have improved tremendously as a result of my solo practice.
When most of us share our experiences and opinions, our posts usually include disclaimers where applicable, such as, "from what I've been told," or "according to what my teacher has told me specifically about XYZ" or "when I personally tried to do it this way, here's what happened." It is jarring to me to read posts that continue to assert opinions as though they are The Only Real Truths, with no acknowledgement that anyone else's experience or opinion might possibly be valid.
