Arm Jive (6 counts ; 12 musical beats)
Also known as: Push and Pull.
Introduction
The Arm Jive is similar to “the twist”, but partnered, slower and more upright — although a twist styling could be added for suitable (Chubby Checker) records. The “feel” of the Arm Jive should be relaxed and unhurried, with the arms kept at waist height. Since, the Arm Jive doesn't need much floor space, and the number of swivels can be varied, it makes a good “thinking” move.
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 left 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 left hand — as he Offers his right hand for the lady to take his right hand in her left hand, and moves backwards (stepping back on his right foot in preparation for an anticlockwise rotation)
- 2: (Twist left)
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 left hand and holds the lady's left hand in his right hand.
The man leads the lady to rotate slightly anticlockwise (with weight on her left leg) — by pulling her right hand slightly with his left hand and pushing her left hand slightly with his right hand — as he rotates slightly anticlockwise (with weight on his left leg).
- 3: (Twist right)
The lady faces southeast stepped away in front of and slightly on the right of the man, who faces northwest.
The man holds the lady's right hand in his left hand and holds the lady's left hand in his right hand.
The man leads the lady to rotate 90o clockwise (with weight on her right leg) — by pushing her right hand slightly with his left hand and pulling her left hand slightly with his right hand — as he rotates 90o clockwise (with weight on his right leg).
Some people do footwork, with the man swivelling with weight on his left foot, tapping his right foot towards the lady, lady swivelling with weight on her right foot tapping her left foot towards the man.
- 4: (Twist left, to the shoulder)
The lady faces southwest stepped away in front of and slightly on the left of the man, who faces northeast.
The man holds the lady's right hand in his left hand and holds the lady's left hand in his right hand — the man's left hand is near to his left shoulder.
The man leads the lady to rotate 90o anticlockwise (with weight on her left leg) — by pushing her left hand slightly with his right hand, pulling her right hand slightly with his left hand and bringing his left hand (and the lady's right hand) from waist height to his left shoulder modifying the left grip to be palm-to-palm grip to indicate that the lady will be led into a turn — as he rotates 90o anticlockwise (with weight on his left leg).
- 5: (Turn the lady)
The lady faces southeast stepped away in front of and slightly on the right of the man, who faces northwest.
The man holds the lady's right hand in his left hand and holds the lady's left hand in his right hand.
The man leads the lady to turn 360+o clockwise (with weight on her right leg) under his left hand (and the lady's right hand) — by raising his left hand (and the lady's right hand) from waist height to above her head and releasing the lady's left hand from his right hand — as he rotates slightly clockwise (with weight on his right leg).
- 6: (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 left hand — the man's left 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 left hand — as he lowers his left hand (and the lady's right hand) to waist height and moves backwards.
- 7: (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 left hand.
Notes
Variations
The move can probably be led with the arms crossed.
Step 3 can be led before step 2, to modify the ordering.
Steps 2 and 3 can be repeated an arbitrary number of times — the lady shouldn't force an exit assuming a set number of “swivels”.
Arm jive wrap — effectively an arm-jive with the lady travelling passed the man's right side into a cuddles position where the left-to-right hands are over the right-to-left hands. The mirrored version exists.
Can syncopate the arm-jive with a pause when the hands are in the “neutral” position.
Links
- Push-pull at Bath Leroc. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- Arm Jive at Cardiff Le Roc and Dance. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- Arm Jive at Robert Pepper's Website. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- Arm jive at Blitz Modern Jive.
- Armjive at Ceroc Kidderminster.
- Armjive at Dance North West.
- Armjive at Dance Yourself Dizzy. Alternative link 1.
- Push-Pull at Elmgrove LeRoc.
- Arm Jive at The Third Row.
- Armjive at Uptown Dance Society — Salsa Jive Scotland.
Books
- Push-pull in The Dance Manual. Andy Galloway. Lyndenhurst Ltd, 38 Ashley Road, London, N19 3AF, UK, 1988.
- Arm Jive in Learn To Dance Modern Jive. Robert Austin and Claire Hilliard. Sigma Leisure, Sigma Press, 1 South Oak Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 6AR, UK, 1998. ISBN 1850586020.
Videos
- Push and pull in How To Jive With Jive Bunny. Christine Keeble. Castle Music Pictures, How To Jive, Ravenbridge House, Camp End Road, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 0NR, UK, 1990.
- Push and pull in How To Jive — Featuring Music By The Firebirds.
- Arm Jive in Le Jive, Le Video — The Complete Instruction Video. Robert Austin and Claire Hilliard. DD Video, DD Video, 5 Churchill Court, 58 Station Road, North Harrow, Middlesex, HA2 7SA, UK, 1995.