Open First Move (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: ()

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 releasing her right hand after pushing it slightly with his left hand to his right, across the lady — as he rotates slightly anticlockwise (with weight on his left leg).

4: ()

The lady faces approximately north/northeast on the right side of the man, who faces approximately northwest/north.

There is no handhold — the man holds the lady's right hip with his right hand.

The man leads the lady to move forwards 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 — as he moves forwards and rotates slightly clockwise (with weight on his right leg).

5: ()

The lady faces south directly in front of the man, who faces north.

There is no handhold — the man holds the lady's left hip with his right hand.

The man leads the lady to spin 360^o clockwise (with weight on her right leg) — by using his right hand on the lady's left waist, i.e. by the man's right hand on the lady's back acting as a hinge — releasing pressure with the fingers and maintaining, or slightly increasing, the pressure of the “heel” of his right hand, prior to releasing it from the lady's hip.

6: (Catch, and step back)

The lady faces south directly in front of the man, who faces north.

The man typically catches both of the lady's hands in a double handhold, or catches the lady's right hand in either of his hands.

The man typically catches the lady's hands in a double handhold, or catches the lady's right hand in either his left or right hand. The man leads the lady to finish the spin (placing weight onto her left foot as a brake and then stepping back on her right leg) — by pushing her hand(s) slightly with his hand(s) — as he moves backwards.

7: (Finish)

The lady faces south stepped away directly in front of the man, who faces north.

The man typically has a double handhold with the lady, or holds the lady's right hand in either of his hands at waist height.