Accordion (9 counts ; 18 musical beats) : Brief Description
The Accordion is a slow double-handed Travelling Return, allowing the man to “present” the lady well.
Steps
- 1: (Step back)
The man leads the lady to move backwards (stepping back on her right foot in preparation for an anticlockwise rotation) — by pushing her right hand slightly with his right hand — as he moves backwards and offers his left hand over the right-to-right handhold for the lady to take his left hand in her left hand.
- 2: ()
The man leads the lady to move forwards and turn 180o anticlockwise (with weight on her left leg) under his left hand (and the lady's left hand) — by raising his left hand (and the lady's left hand) from waist height to above her head and raising his right hand (and the lady's right hand) from waist height to head height — as he moves forwards.
- 3: ()
The man leads the lady to finish the turn (placing weight onto her left foot as a brake and then stepping back on her right leg) — by lowering his left hand (and the lady's left hand) from head height to waist height and pushing her left hand slightly with his left hand, keeping the right hands high — as he moves left.
The man can bring the lady's hands together above her head at this point, and then bringing them apart during the next step.
- 4: ()
The man leads the lady to move forwards and turn 90o clockwise (with weight on her right leg) under his right hand (and the lady's right hand) — by raising his left hand (and the lady's left hand) from waist height to head height to match the right hands — as he moves right so that the lady backs him.
The man can emphasize the separation by lunging to his left, rather than simply stepping across.
There is a definite “eye-line” here, which can be used for a stylish hesitation.
- 5: ()
The man leads the lady to finish the turn (placing weight onto her right foot as a brake and then stepping back on her left leg) — by lowering his right hand (and the lady's right hand) from head height to waist height and pushing her right hand slightly with his right hand, keeping the left hands high — as he moves right.
The man can bring the lady's hands together above her head at this point, and then bringing them apart during the next step.
- 6: ()
The man leads the lady to move forwards and turn 90o anticlockwise (with weight on her left leg) under his left hand (and the lady's left hand) — by raising his right hand (and the lady's right hand) from waist height to head height to match the left hands — as he moves left so that the lady backs him.
The man can emphasize the separation by lunging to his right, rather than simply stepping across.
There is a definite “eye-line” here, which can be used for a stylish hesitation.
- 7: ()
The man leads the lady to finish the turn (placing weight onto her left foot as a brake and then stepping back on her right leg) — by lowering his left hand (and the lady's left hand) from head height to waist height and pushing her left hand slightly with his left hand, keeping the right hands high — as he moves left.
The man can bring the lady's hands together above her head at this point, and then bringing them apart during the next step.
- 8: ()
The man leads the lady to move forwards-right, and turn 270o clockwise (with weight on her right leg) under his right hand (and the lady's right hand) — by raising his right hand (and the lady's right hand) to above the lady's head and releasing the lady's left hand from his left hand — as he moves right to face.
- 9: (Step back)
The man leads the lady to finish the turn (placing weight onto her left foot as a brake and then stepping back on her right leg) — by pushing her right hand slightly with his right hand — as he lowers his right hand (and the lady's right hand) from head height to waist height and moves backwards.
- 10: (Finish)
