I’m quite particular about where his arm should go in the embrace. Personally I like a high embrace1. I’m looking to communicate the movement of my chest into hers. Also I have always been told that the important point of contact for the follower is under her arm where her arm contacts his. If she is seeking contact at this point then at the very least he should be present.
It is for these reasons that I really dislike the “rope around the waist” hold. It smacks of a bloke in a pub putting his arm around the waist of his bird next to him. It speaks of a familiar loose relaxed comfort. A cosiness instead of the fiery warmth of tango. It removes any opportunity for point of contact other than her hand on his shoulder. If she is lucky he will use his forearm as point of contact on her waist but usually a claw of a hand will be seen grasping for purchase.
1Allowing for differences in height. Terms and conditions apply. The value of the investment can fall as well as rise.
I HATE a too-low arm. It tickles; it feels annoying and distracting if it’s gentle, and if it is firm it forcibly bends my spine, or at least weighs on me and makes it very difficult to keep good posture; and it severely weakens the lead so that I have to do a lot more work and can express myself a lot less. I don’t see how it’s possible to lead a giro properly, every step, with your arm around the lady’s waist. The transmission just isn’t good enough. My guideline would be to put that hand no lower than where your index finger can detect the edge of a bra strap.
I very much agree with you. As a follower, I find the arm around the waist very uncomfortable. (And being tall, I find it happening more often than I’d like, just because leaders don’t seem to be used to keeping their arms up that high.) The problem for me is that the “rope around the waist” embrace limits my movement a lot – keeps me from rotating and moving freely in the torso. I definitely advocate for a high embrace.
@MsHedgehog. And you were the one worried about strap wranglers
Well, yes. But I still think that was a liar trying to scare me
I also agree that it’s over-familiar and impertinent.