[zbyszek]

That doesn't sound quite like the Balboa I was taught, where the contact is at the top of the chest (and along the arms and hands of course) and the partners are slightly offset to the side to avoid shin kicking and toe trampling. As you say, the footwork is very rapid and the hold is close - perfect for fast tunes and crowded dancefloors - but no hip mashing that I recall.

[Jeff_Brown]

We were slightly offset, yes; her foot fell between mine, and vice versa.

[lief79]

Agreed, I had learned it as basically a continuous hug, still really close chest to chest and not something that everyone was comfortable with.