In other forms, connection involves multiple dancers (more than two) without a distinct leader or follower (e.g. contact improvisation).
[1] Connection refers to a host of different techniques in many types of partner dancing, especially (but not exclusively) those that feature significant physical contact between the dancers, including the Argentine Tango, Lindy Hop, Balboa, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Salsa, and other ballroom dances.
Philosopher of dance Ilya Vidrin argues that connection between partners involves norm-based communication that include “a physical exchange of information on the basis of ethically-bound conditions” (proximity, orientation, and points of contact) which constrain agency and predictability.
Changes in tension are made to create rhythmic variations in moves and movements, and are communicated through points of contact.
Instead of just tensing the arms, connection is achieved by engaging the shoulder, upper body and torso muscles.
In others e.g. Modern Jive moving closer together and further apart are fundamental to the dance, requiring flexion and extension of the arms, alternating compression and tension.