Tornado

Type   Turn, Spin
Level    Level 4 Intermediate
Other Names Behind the Back Pass
Comes From   Crossed Arm Slide
Leads To   Open Facing or Butterfly, Basic Step, Belt Loop, Loop, Zig-zag

Description

The Tornado is a behind the back hand-off, that includes a 180-degree turn for the leader and 1.5 spins for the follower. The leader turns the follower behind him, then switches her hand to his other hand to bring her to the other side with a spin.

The actual tornado will begin on count 3 of a sequence, so below I have included instructions for the Belt Loop with hand change to prepare the first 2 beats on the correct foot.

Lead

The Belt Loop set up will be counts 1&2 with footwork LRL, and the Tornado will be counts 3&4&5 beginning on the leader’s right foot.

Counts 1&2 Perform the Belt Loop with steps LRL, cross your right arm over to your left side to pick up the follower’s right hand. You want a Right-to-right hand grip for the Tornado steps below.
Count 3 Plant your right foot next to your left foot and begin to swing your right arm up and out to the right for the follower’s turn.
& of 3 Step forward with your left foot turned 1/4 to the left and follow through with the arm motion for the follower’s spin.
Count 4 Follow through with the 1/4 turn for you, stepping your right foot next to your left. Meanwhile bring both hands behind your back and hand-off the follow’s right hand to your left
& of 4 Bring your left arm up and out to the left for the follower’s spin. Meanwhile step back on your left foot with it turned out to the left for the other 1/4 turn for you.
Count 5 rock step back on your right foot. You should be in Open Position facing one another.

Follow

The Belt Loop set up will be counts 1&2 with footwork RLR, and the Tornado will be counts 3&4&5 beginning on the follower’s left foot.

Counts 1&2 Perform the Belt Loop with steps RLR moving past the leader while turning 180-degrees. You want a Right-to-right hand grip for the Tornado steps below.
Count 3 Step your left foot turned out 1/4 to the left to begin the spin
& of 3 Step your right foot next to your left as you continue the spin.
Count 4 Step your left foot turned out 1/4 to the left again for the next spin.
& of 4 Step your right foot next to your left as you continue the spin.
Count 5 rock step back (anchor back from the spin) on your left foot. You should be in Open Position facing one another.

Tips

This move is very useful for getting out of Open Facing RR, back to normal Open Facing or Butterfly Position.
The lead stays facing the same direction for the whole move.
Momentum from one step to the next is the key to making this move look good.