Figure Of Eight (4 counts ; 8 musical beats)
Also known as: I Turn, You Turn.
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 (stepping back on his right foot in preparation for an anticlockwise rotation).
Some men signal the Figure Of Eight by holding their right hand out to their right at shoulder height, with their palm facing the lady — this is a stylised preparation to transfer hold into the man's right hand as he turns. Other men may signal the Figure Of Eight by pointing vertically downwards with their right 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.
The man leads the lady to move forwards — by pulling her left hand slightly with his right hand — as he moves forwards and swaps the lady's right hand from his left hand into his right hand, then raises his right hand (and the lady's right hand) from waist height to above his head and turns 360o anticlockwise (with weight on her left leg) under his right hand (and the lady's right hand).
The man can emphasize the turn out and spin during the Figure Of Eight.
- and
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's right hand is at head height.
The man leads the lady to stay in-place — by dipping his right hand (and the lady's right hand), and then raising his right hand (and the lady's right hand) from waist height to head height in preparation for the next step.
- 3: ()
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 turn 360o clockwise (with weight on her right leg) under his right hand (and the lady's right hand) — by raising his right hand (and the lady's right hand) from waist height to above the lady's head.
- 4: (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.
- 5: (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 right hand.
Notes
Variations
Can also be performed from a right-to-right handhold, waist height, both stepped away from each other, man right foot back, lady left foot backwards.
The Figure Of Eight can be repeated, the man simply misses out the hand swap and continues. Some men signal the repeat by tapping on the lady's back when she spins.
Links
- Double finger of eight at Bath Leroc. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- Figure of eight at Bath Leroc. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- Figure of 8 And Accordion at Bath Leroc. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- Double Figure of Eight at Cardiff Le Roc and Dance. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- Figure of Eight at Cardiff Le Roc and Dance. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- Travelling Figure of 8 at Cardiff Le Roc and Dance. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- Figure of Eight at leroc.net. 2001. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- Double Figure of 8 at leroc.net. 2001. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- Figure of Eight at Robert Pepper's Website. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- Figure Eight at Elmgrove LeRoc.
- Figure 8 at The Third Row.
Books
- Figure of Eight in The Dance Manual. Andy Galloway. Lyndenhurst Ltd, 38 Ashley Road, London, N19 3AF, UK, 1988.
Videos
- Figure of Eight 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.
- Figure of Eight in How To Jive — Featuring Music By The Firebirds.