Comb (3 counts ; 6 musical beats)
Also known as: Hairbrush (Salsa).
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 — by pushing her right hand slightly with his right hand — as he moves backwards.
- 2: (Step in, and comb yourself)
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.
The man leads the lady to move forwards — by pulling her right hand slightly with his right hand — as he moves forwards and brings his right hand (and the lady's right hand) over his head in a combing motion, ending so that it finishes with the man holding her right hand on his right shoulder.
The Comb should be led, so that the hand is placed on to the same shoulder, as the man's hand — as the arm doing the comb, i.e. for a right-handed comb the man's hand should be placed onto his right shoulder — this creates a better line, otherwise the man's elbow will tend to point upwards — with the added “bonus” of exposing his (sweaty) armpit to the lady at close quarters — probably unwise after several hours of vigorous dancing.
- 3: ()
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 — the lady holds the man's right shoulder with her right hand.
The man leads the lady to move backwards — by releasing the lady's right hand from his right hand — as he moves backwards and then typically catches the lady's hands in a double handhold, or catches the lady's right hand in either his left or right hand.
Can pause here, and wiggle, or walk — there is a definite sight-line here, gaze deeply into each other's eyes!
- 4: (Finish)
The lady faces south stepped away directly in front of the man, who faces north.
The man typically has a double handhold with the lady, or holds the lady's right hand in either of his hands at waist height.
Notes
Variations
Obviously, combs can be “undone”, so that the leader uncombs the follower (immediately).
Can do consecutive man combs (leading the lady closer and closer and closer…)
A different style is to release the lady's hand high over the shoulder, rather than doing an explicit combing movement, makes the move more of a fast hand change.
Both partners can hold the Comb position and do a dipping change of weight from right foot to left foot, etc.
There are also “flick” and “false” comb variations.
There are eight single-handed facing combs; four for the man:
and four for the lady:
There are four double-handed man and lady combs:
There also double-handed man and double-handed lady combs:
and double “toothless combs”, i.e. hands over shoulders etc.
There are also combs with the lady / man facing the same direction, e.g. man in front of the lady.
There are also combs with the lady / man side-by-side, e.g. lady in a Basket. The man doesn't drop the left-to-right hands, but bounces them above the lady's head, releasing the hands, letting them drop and recatching them, as a normal Basket.
Links
- Comb at Bath Leroc. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- Comb at Cardiff Le Roc and Dance. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- Sleazy Overhead Pass at Cardiff Le Roc and Dance. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- Comb at Dance Yourself Dizzy. Alternative link 1.
- Comb at The Third Row.
Books
- Comb in The Dance Manual. Andy Galloway. Lyndenhurst Ltd, 38 Ashley Road, London, N19 3AF, UK, 1988.
- Right Handed Comb 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
- Comb 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.
- Comb in How To Jive — Featuring Music By The Firebirds.
- Right handed comb 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.