Backhander (5 counts ; 10 musical beats)
Also known as: Apaché turn, Arm Breaker or Texas Tommy.
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 — 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 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 — the man's right hand is available at waist height.
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 lady faces south on the right side of the man, who faces north.
The man holds the lady's right hand in his left hand — the man's right hand is past the lady's left hip.
The man leads the lady to move forwards past his right side and rotate 180o 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 180o clockwise (with weight on his right leg).
The man can kneel down slightly here, letting the lady “drag” him round.
- 4: ()
The lady faces north directly in front of the man, who faces south.
The man holds the lady's right hand in his right hand.
The man leads the lady to turn 360o 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 lady faces north directly in front of the man, who faces south.
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 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)
The lady faces north stepped away directly in front of the man, who faces south.
The man holds the lady's right hand in his right hand.
Notes
Variations
The Backhander is a Lindy-Hop move, and hence can be performed with Lindy-Hop timing:
Back-rock (left-right)
Triple-step (left-right-left)
Step (right), Step (left)
Triple-step (right-left-right)
Can you do a flamenco, as an exit from a Backhander — have to regain handhold.
Variation with a slide backwards to a side-by-side position, with the lady on the man's right side.
Links
- Passing Backhander at Bath Leroc. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- Backhander at Cardiff Le Roc and Dance. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- Backhander at Robert Pepper's Website. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
Books
- Back hander in The Dance Manual. Andy Galloway. Lyndenhurst Ltd, 38 Ashley Road, London, N19 3AF, UK, 1988.
Videos
- Backhander 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.
- Backhander in How To Jive — Featuring Music By The Firebirds.