Cuddles (5 counts ; 10 musical beats)
Introduction
Although this move is similar to a Basket (except the lady is in front of the man) this move is not recommended to dance (slowly) with beginner followers as, aside from obvious problems, it may feel claustrophobic to them — a leader may not easily sense any discomfort since the follower will be backing them.
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 and offers his right hand for the lady to take his right hand in her left hand.
- 2: ()
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 move forwards and turn 180o anticlockwise (with weight on her left 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 over his right arm and the lady's left arm in a brief arch over her head to back him — as he moves forwards.
- 3: ()
The lady faces north close to directly behind 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 move forwards and turn 180o 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 over her head in a brief arch — as he moves backwards.
- 4: ()
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 move forwards — by pulling her right hand slightly with his right hand and raising his right hand (and the lady's left hand) from waist height over his left arm and over the lady's right arm above his head — as he moves forwards and turns 180o anticlockwise (with weight on her left leg) under his right hand (and the lady's left hand) to back her.
- 5: ()
The lady faces south close to directly behind the man, who faces south.
The man holds the lady's left hand in his left hand and holds the lady's right hand in his right hand, the right hands are over the left hands — the man's arm is wrapped in front of his body so that his left and right hands is available on his side.
The man leads the lady to move backwards — by pushing her right hand slightly with his left hand — as he moves forwards, raises his right hand (and the lady's left hand) over his head in a brief arch, and turns 180o clockwise (with weight on her right leg) under his right hand (and the lady's left hand).
- 6: (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 and holds the lady's left hand in his right hand.
Notes
Variations
Can also have a “really” crossed cuddle, where the man's arms cross behind and in front of the lady.
Can enter via an Arm Jive into Cuddles.
Both step-in together, man pulls backwards on left arm and pushes away with right arm, consequently man swivels slightly anticlockwise and lady swivels slightly clockwise.
The lady steps past on the man's right-side, through an arch made by the left-to-right hands, the right-to-left handhold is maintained.
The man turns 180o clockwise — the man lowers the left-to-right arch. The left-to-right handhold is across the lady, over the right-to-left handhold, stopping the lady stepping forwards. The lady should now be in a “wrapped” hold, in front of the man.
Can enter from a Basket.