First Move Jump (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 places his right hand on the lady's left hip. As she closes, the lady may optionally place her left hand loosely, on top of the man's right shoulder.
Some men signal the First Move Jump by pointing the fingers of the right hand vertically down at their right shoulder.
- 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 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 move forwards and rotate 90+o anticlockwise (with weight on her left leg) — by bringing his left hand (and the lady's right hand) towards his left shoulder — as he moves forwards and rotates 90+o clockwise (with weight on his right leg).
- 5: ()
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 jump forwards-right and rotate 180o anticlockwise (with weight on her left leg) — by guiding her jump, i.e. supporting the lady's right palm with his left palm and supporting the lady's right hip (or waist) with his right hand — as he rotates 90o anticlockwise (with weight on his left leg) and releases the lady's left hip from his right hand.
Whilst not strictly a signal, it is strongly advised that both partners bend their knees before dancing the jump “take-off” — this ensures that both partners are synchronised before the jump.
The lady can make her jump “higher” by tucking her legs up, so that there is more apparent “ground clearance”.
- 6: ()
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 holds the lady's left hip with his right hand.
The man leads the lady to move backwards, after he supports her landing from the jump — by pushing her right hand slightly with his left hand and pushing her left hip slightly with his right hand — as he moves backwards.
Whilst not strictly a signal, it is strongly advised that both partners bend their knees as the jump “lands” — this ensures that the lady lands safely and that the joint handhold lowers as she does — and also helps both partners are re-synchronise after the jump.
Either, or both partners may follow the bent knee landing with “heels”.
- 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
Choreography: the man can lead the lady into repeated jumps without repeating the preparation steps, e.g. doing three jumps turning 90o each jump.
Links
- First move jump at Bath Leroc. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- First Move Jump at Cardiff Le Roc and Dance. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- First Move Jump at Robert Pepper's Website. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
Books
- First Move Jump 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 Jump 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 Jump in How To Jive — Featuring Music By The Firebirds.