First Move (6 counts ; 12 musical beats)
Introduction
One explanation for the name of the First Move:
Throughout the summer of 1982 the dance troupe rehearsed four nights a week and after each rehearsal Michel [Ange Lau] worked with his partner, Christine Keeble, to create a large repertoire of new and exciting dance moves. All of these were given their own memorable names and they still form the basis of the dance. These included the “First Move” (so named because it featured first in the troupe's first public performance).
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: (Twist in, to face)
The lady faces approximately north/northeast on the right side of the man, who faces approximately northwest/north.
The man holds the lady's right hand in his left hand — the man's left hand is near to the lady's right hip — the man holds the lady's left hip with his right hand.
The man leads the lady to step to his left and rotate 180+o anticlockwise (with weight on her left leg) — by bringing his left hand (and the lady's right hand) towards his left shoulder, switching to a palm-to-palm grip to indicate that the lady will be led into a turn — as he rotates slightly clockwise (with weight on his right leg) closing his feet together.
A more “abrupt” style is for the lady to remove her left hand from the man's right shoulder, and hold her left arm out to her left at about shoulder height. This styling has the benefit that the lady's left arm is less likely to be trapped behind the man's body as she exits the move.
To “present” the lady more, the man can step forwards or to his left, rather than stepping backwards.
- 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 360o 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
Comparisons
A Modern JiveFirst Move is a combination equivalent to moving from an open facing position, into a closed dance hold, with an outside top-turn out, out to the open position — which would be the equivalent Ballroom Jive, East Coast Swing or Lindy Hop (Jitterbug) move.
Links
- First move at Bath Leroc. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- First Move Double Return at Cardiff Le Roc and Dance. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- First Move at Cardiff Le Roc and Dance. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- First Move at leroc.net. 2001. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- First Move at Robert Pepper's Website. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- Basic at Blitz Modern Jive.
- First Move at Ceroc Australia.
- First Move at Ceroc Kidderminster.
- Basic at Dance North West.
- First Move at Dance Yourself Dizzy. Alternative link 1.
- First Move at Elmgrove LeRoc.
- First Move and Changing Places at Leroc Scotland.
- First Move at The Third Row.
- First Move at Uptown Dance Society — Salsa Jive Scotland.
Books
- First move in The Dance Manual. Andy Galloway. Lyndenhurst Ltd, 38 Ashley Road, London, N19 3AF, UK, 1988.
- First Move 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
- First Move in Beginners Modern Jive — The Easy Way To Learn. QLD Dance, 1A Great Northern Street, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE29 7HJ, UK, volume QLDVD6010, 2003.
- First Move 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.
- First Move in How To Jive — Featuring Music By The Firebirds.
- First Move 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.