John's Move (3 counts ; 6 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.
- 2: (Step in)
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 and holds the lady's left hand in his right hand.
The man leads the lady to move forwards — by releasing her right hand after pulling it slightly with his left hand and releasing her left hand after pulling it slightly with his right hand — as he moves forwards and then catches the lady's right hip in his left hand and catches the lady's left hip in his right hand.
- 3: ()
The lady faces south close to directly in front of the man, who faces north.
There is no handhold — the man holds the lady's right hip with his left hand — the man holds the lady's left hip with his right hand.
The man leads the lady to move backwards — by releasing her left hip after pushing it slightly with his left hand and releasing her right hip after pushing it slightly with his right hand — as he moves backwards.
The lady can optionally place her hands on the man's shoulders — or even on his head, lowering his gaze slightly!
- 4: (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
A surprising John's Move variation is for the man to lead the lady to move forwards, and release her hands, so that she then stops herself with her hands on the man's chest — and then unsurprisingly pushes him away. A modification to this is for the man to bring his arms high after releasing the lady's hands, so that his arms are straight out over and past the lady's shoulders when she is stepped in close to him.
The John's Move can look extremely dramatic if both partners can stop very close to each other — nose to nose.
Books
- John's move in The Dance Manual. Andy Galloway. Lyndenhurst Ltd, 38 Ashley Road, London, N19 3AF, UK, 1988.