First Move Locked (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. Ideally, the man comes in slightly past the lady's right hip, to start both partners walking. As both partners step together the man brings his left hand (and the lady's right hand) out to his left at shoulder height and places his right hand on the lady's back near to her left shoulder so that his right arm is across the lady's back, as this locks the lady in position and allows the man to use all of his right arm to lead the lady circling. As she closes, the lady may optionally place her left hand loosely, on top of the man's right shoulder.

3: (Circle clockwise)

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 move with him so that both partners circle 360^o clockwise side by side — by keeping the lady locked in close to him — as he keeps his left arm near his left shoulder and right hand on the lady's left hip, to prevent her turning out, e.g. as in a First Move.

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 360^o 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

Variations