Type Turn, Combo
Level Level 5 Intermediate
Other Names The Octopus (when done twice or more), Reverse Pretzel
Comes From Butterfly Open Position, Hammerlock, Sliding Door
Leads To Butterfly Open Position, Hammerlock, Toss Away Spin
In the Pretzel, the leader and follower’s hands are connected in open position, and through a series of turns they turn back-to-back and then wrap around to Open Position.
Continue reading “Pretzel”Type Lead Turn
Level Level 1 Beginner
Other Names Lead’s Underarm Turn, Lace (usually done over one partner’s head then the other)
Comes From Open Position, Loop, Belt Loop, Inside Turn, Straight Jacket Twist
Leads To Open Position, Open Facing R-to-R, Loop, Belt Loop, Lasso
Sometimes Leaders want to turn too! If that’s the case for you, then this is perfect! It’s essentially an Outside Turn that is lead and performed by the Leader.
Continue reading “Arch”Type Transition Move, Turn
Level Level 3 Beginner
Other Names Butterfly, Back and Forth
Comes From Open Position, Outside Turn, Tornado
Leads To Crossed Arm Slide, Open Position
This move is a turn where the partners switch places, and then usually switch back, Zig-zagging across each others’ path. It’s also sometimes called The Butterfly, in reference to its Butterfly position.
Continue reading “Zig-zag”Type Turn
Level Level 2 Beginner
Other Names Chained Inside Turns, Arches, Belt Loop, Belt Buckle, Infinity Loop, Head Loop, Loop-de-loop
Comes From Open Position, Outside Turn, Tornado, Belt Loop,
Arch, Back Lean, Hip Push Spin, Straight Jacket Twist
Leads To Inside Turn, Cuddle, Cuddle Dip, Tornado, Belt Loop, Spinneroo,
Arch, Toss Away Spin, Back Lean
The Loop combines the Inside Turn and Cuddle. It is an inside turn for the follower, followed by an inside turn for the leader. It begins from Open Position.
The Loop and Belt Loop are very similar, and people will often call both moves by the same name. If there is a hand lead through the inside of the frame just like an inside turn, it is a Loop. If the hands cross at the belt line only, it’s a Belt Loop.
Continue reading “Loop”Type Transition Move, Position, Combo, Turn, Circle
Level Level 3 Beginner
Other Names Bow Tie, Arm Slide, Double Arm Slide, Double Overhead Slide, Double Arch Bridge Slide, Butterfly
Comes From Butterfly Open Position, Outside Turn, Tornado, Zig-zag
Leads To Tabletop, Duck Under Spin, Double Lasso, Window, High Five Spin, Right-to Right Open Position, Tunnel Tabletop Combo, Gravedigger, Tunnel
The Crossed Arm Slide is one of the easiest ways to get into a cross-handed position. The leader guides the follow to loop her arm over her head while he does the same, then they slide off to a right-to-right hand hold.
Continue reading “Crossed Arm Slide”Type Turn
Level Level 1 Beginner
Other Names Back Slide, Belt Buckle, Waist Slide
Comes From Open Position, Outside Turn, Tornado, Loop,
Arch, Toss Away Spin, Side Lean, Hip Push Spin, Straight Jacket Twist
Leads To Loop, Inside Turn, Cuddle, Cuddle Dip, Tornado,
Arch, Lasso (end Right-to-right), Toss Away Spin, Side Lean,
Tunnel Tabletop Combo (end Right-to-Right), Shoulder Lean (RR),
The Belt Loop (or Back Slide) is a spin for the leader. He turns into his own arm at the belt-line, and lets the follower trace his back to reconnect in Open Position.
Continue reading “Belt Loop”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
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.
Continue reading “Tornado”Type Turn
Level Level 4 Intermediate
Other Names ___
Comes From Cross-Handed Open Position, Belt Loop, Arch, Shadow Position, Outside Turn (cross-handed)
Leads To Shadow Position, Outside Turn (cross-handed)
There are several other moves in the dance world called “The Lasso,” (ropers can do lots of different tricks, that’s probably why they have so many!). This basic one is called “The Lasso” because it looks the most like if you were to mime a lasso in slow motion. The follower walks around the leader slowly and elegantly.
Continue reading “Lasso”Type Turn
Level Level 6 Intermediate
Other Names Double Chicken Wing
Comes From Cross-Handed Open Position, Crossed Arm Slide, Belt Loop (end with Cross-Hand Grip), Sliding Door, Sliding Door Dip, Tunnel
Leads To Cross-Handed Open Position, Break Up, Fall For Me Dip, Toss Away Spin, Tunnel
The Tabletop is a cross-handed move where the lead bends from the waist to sweep his arm across his back, then leads the follower to do the same.
Continue reading “Tabletop”
Country Swing AZ 