First Move Barrier (6 counts ; 12 musical beats)

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.

2: (Step 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.

The man leads the lady to move forwards — by pulling her right hand slightly with his left hand — as he moves forwards slightly to the left of the lady's line, so that the lady will come into his right side. As both partners step together the man brings his left hand (and the lady's right hand) in front of his left shoulder and takes her left hip with his right hand

Some men signal the First Move by pointing their right arm down and slightly to their right, with a flat palm facing the lady — this is a stylised preparation to place the hand on the lady's left hip when she comes into his side.

As she closes, the lady may optionally place her left hand loosely, on top of the man's right shoulder.

A more “abrupt” style is for the lady to keep her left arm held out to her left at about shoulder height, i.e. refraining from placing her hand on the man's shoulder until the next step.

3: (Twist out)

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 holds the lady's left hip with his right hand.

The man leads the lady to rotate 180+^o clockwise (with weight on her left leg) so that she ends stepped back on her right foot — by bringing his left hand (and the lady's right hand) to his right, across the lady — as he rotates slightly anticlockwise (with weight on his left leg).

The lady should place her left hand on the man's right shoulder, if she has not already done so.

4: ()

The lady faces west directly in front of the man, who faces east.

The man holds the lady's right hand in his left hand — the man holds the lady's left hip with his right hand.

The man leads the lady to move forwards-right and rotate 90^o clockwise (with weight on her right leg) — by pushing her left hip slightly with his right hand and blocking her rotation with his left arm (and the lady's right arm) at waist height.

5: ()

The lady faces north in front of and slightly on the left of the man, who faces east.

The man holds the lady's right hand in his left hand — the man holds the lady's left hip with his right hand.

The man leads the lady to turn 450^o 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 to above her head and releasing her left hip after pulling it slightly with his right hand — as he rotates 90^o anticlockwise (with weight on his left leg).

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 right foot as a brake and then stepping back on her left leg) — by pushing her right hand slightly with his left hand — as he moves backwards and lowers his left hand (and the lady's right hand) to waist height.

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