“Classic” Basket (6 counts ; 12 musical beats)

Introduction

The “Classic” Basket is the original “classic” (more formal) version of the Basket.

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 moves backwards-left off the lady's line, leaving it free for her to step forwards and offers his right hand for the lady to take his right hand in her left hand.

2: (Wrap in)

The lady faces south stepped away in front of and slightly on the right 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 move forwards and turn 180^o anticlockwise (with weight on her right leg) under his left hand (and the lady's right hand) — by pulling her left hand slightly with his right hand at waist height and raising his left hand (and the lady's right hand) from waist height up and to his right (over the other hands) for the lady to turn under — as he moves forwards.

3: (Cradle back)

The lady faces north close to on the right side 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 lady's arm is wrapped in front of her body so that her left and right hands is available on her side.

The man leads the lady to rotate slightly clockwise (with weight on her left leg) and lean back slightly in a sway back — by pulling her left hand slightly with his right hand — as he lowers his left hand (and the lady's right hand) to waist height, rotates slightly clockwise (with weight on his right leg) and leans back slightly in a sway position.

Depending on the styling the man can step backwards on either foot — if both step backwards on the right foot, then both do similar head movements looking diagonally back and to the right. Alternatively, some dancers do the sway movement as a kick-ball-change — doing a small kick forwards and then replacing their weight onto the inside feet, then stepping backwards on their outside feet.

Can pause here, and wiggle, or walk — there is a definite sight-line here, gaze deeply into each other's eyes!

4: (Cradle forwards)

The lady faces approximately north/northeast on the right side of the man, who faces approximately north/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 lady's arm is wrapped in front of her body so that her left and right hands is available on her side.

The man leads the lady to move forwards-left and rotate 180+^o anticlockwise (with weight on her left leg) — by bringing his left hand (and the lady's right hand) toward his left shoulder and changing to a palm-to-palm grip, and releasing the lady's left hand from his right hand so that his right hand slides around the lady's waist to her left hip — as he closes his right foot to his left and rotates slightly anticlockwise (with weight on his left leg).

5: (Turn the lady)

The lady faces south directly in front of the man, who faces north.

The man's left hand is palm-to-palm with the lady's right hand — the man's left hand is at shoulder height — the man holds the lady's left hip with 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 pushing her right hand slightly with his left hand and raising his left hand (and the lady's right hand) from waist height to above her head, and releasing his right hand from the lady's left hip — as he closes his feet together.

The lady should remove her left hand from the man's right shoulder, if she has not already done so, so that her left arm is less likely to be trapped behind the man's body as she exits the move.

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