Normally, in closed position, we try not to lean forward. Invading your partner's space like this pushes, interferes, gets in the way, and throws us off balance. Instead, we should try to orient our upper body back, to the left, and away from our partner. We look left, up, and out. With this expanded topline, we are out of each other's way, more free, more graceful.

But the Carioca was a novelty dance in which couples danced with foreheads pressed together. Given this constraint, Fred and Ginger looked very good indeed.

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