Accordion (9 counts ; 18 musical beats)
Introduction
The Accordion is a slow double-handed Travelling Return, allowing the man to “present” the lady well.
Steps
- 1: (Step back)
The lady faces south directly in front of the man, who faces north.
The man holds the lady's right hand in his right hand.
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 lady faces south stepped away directly in front of the man, who faces north.
The man holds the lady's left hand in his left hand and holds the lady's right hand in his right hand, the left hands are over the right hands.
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 lady faces north directly in front of the man, who faces north.
The man holds the lady's left hand in his left hand and holds the lady's right hand in his right hand — the man's left and right hands are at head height.
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 lady faces west stepped away on the right of and slightly in front of the man, who faces north.
The man holds the lady's left hand in his left hand and holds the lady's right hand in his right hand, the right hands are over the left hands — the man's right hand is over the lady's head.
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 lady faces north directly in front of the man, who faces north.
The man holds the lady's left hand in his left hand and holds the lady's right hand in his right hand — the man's left and right hands are at head height.
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 lady faces east stepped away on the left of the man, who faces north.
The man holds the lady's left hand in his left hand and holds the lady's right hand in his right hand, the left hands are over the right hands — the man's left hand is over the lady's head.
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 lady faces north directly in front of the man, who faces north.
The man holds the lady's left hand in his left hand and holds the lady's right hand in his right hand — the man's left and right hands are at head height.
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 lady faces west stepped away on the right of and slightly in front of the man, who faces north.
The man holds the lady's left hand in his left hand and holds the lady's right hand in his right hand, the right hands are over the left hands — the man's right hand is over the lady's head.
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 lady faces south directly in front of the man, who faces north.
The man holds the lady's right hand in his right hand — the man's right hand is at head height.
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)
The lady faces south stepped away directly in front of the man, who faces north.
The man holds the lady's right hand in his right hand.
Notes
Variations
The man can lead the lady into a wringer, or the reverse variation in the middle of the Accordion.
Note the entry into the Accordion is effectively a Return into a double-handed position, so that it can be led from any Return position including Travelling Returns.
From the Accordion position when the lady is on the man's left side or right side they can lead the lady to turn clockwise or anticlockwise into a hammerlock (flamenco position).
When the lady is on the left the man can quickly move under the arch into a man-sway position.
Can exit to a Butterfly (Reverse Butterfly) when the lady is on the left (right).
The man can lead an exit, e.g. when the lady is on the man's left side — by lowering the high hands down and in front of the lady, so that they are over the lower hands. From here, the man can lead the lady into a travelling 360o clockwise spin, catching her in front of him.
The man can interrupt the turns on either side, breaking/braking them and using them as the preparation to lead the opposite handed turn instead.
The Accordion can be danced in a handcuff position with the man leading with his right hand.
Links
- Accordion With Butterfly Ending at Bath Leroc. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- Figure of 8 And Accordion at Bath Leroc. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
Books
- Accordion in The Dance Manual. Andy Galloway. Lyndenhurst Ltd, 38 Ashley Road, London, N19 3AF, UK, 1988.