Backhander (5 counts ; 10 musical beats) : Brief Description

Steps

1: (Step back)

The man leads the lady to move backwards — by pushing her right hand slightly with his left hand — as he moves backwards-left off the lady's line, leaving it free for her to step forwards.

Some men signal the Backhander by pointing slightly forwards at the floor — this is a stylised preparation making sure the right hand is free to swap the lady's right hand into.

2: (Step in)

The man leads the lady to move forwards — by pulling her right hand slightly with his left hand — as he moves forwards into the lady's right side and crouches slightly, placing his right hand past the lady's left waist, so that his right hand is available behind the lady's back.

3: ()

The man leads the lady to move forwards past his right side and rotate 180^o clockwise (with weight on her right leg) — by swapping the lady's right hand from his left hand into his right hand keeping the hands low and pulling her left hand slightly with his right hand to start her rotation — as he moves forwards-right and rotates 180^o clockwise (with weight on his right leg).

The man can kneel down slightly here, letting the lady “drag” him round.

4: ()

The man leads the lady to turn 360^o clockwise (with weight on her right leg) under his right hand (and the lady's right hand)once the lady is unwound from the previous step and is facing him — by raising his right hand (and the lady's right hand) from waist height to above the lady's head — as he stands up from his crouching position.

5: (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 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 — as he moves backwards.

6: (Finish)