Overhead Change (3 counts ; 6 musical beats)
Also known as: Fountain, Hallelujah or Rainbow.
Introduction
The Overhead Change is typically used as an easy way to change handhold(s), e.g. from a crossed handhold to an uncrossed one.
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 right hand.
The man leads the lady to move backwards — by pushing her right hand slightly with his right hand — as he moves backwards and offers his left hand over the right-to-right handhold for the lady to take his left hand in her left hand.
- 2: ()
The lady faces south stepped away directly in front of the man, who faces north.
The man holds the lady's left hand in his left hand and holds the lady's right hand in his right hand, the left hands are over the right hands.
The man leads the lady to move forwards — by pulling her left hand slightly with his right hand and pulling her right hand slightly with his left hand — as he moves forwards and brings both sets of hands together and raises his left hand (and the lady's left hand) and raises his right hand (and the lady's right hand) to above head height.
This can be performed slowly for a much more stylish effect, e.g. the hands can be held up for several beats. Alternatively, the hands can be lowered together slowly, e.g. rocking from side to side, or beating out the rhythm of the music over a number of beats.
- 3: ()
The lady faces south directly in front of the man, who faces north.
.
The man leads the lady to move backwards and swap hands at the peak of the arc and lower the hands to the sides at waist height — by breaking and rejoining the handholds, e.g. changing from a crossed handhold to an uncrossed handhold, — as he moves backwards.
- 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 and holds the lady's left hand in his right hand.
Notes
Variations
The Overhead Change can be performed with an uncrossed double handhold.
An unusual variation is to repeat “raising the hands” without stepping backwards.
Can bring the hands out first and then in, reversing the normal fountain hand-motions.
Can also mark time by rocking (shaking) the hands as they move upwards.
Links
- Overhead change at Bath Leroc. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- Overhead Change at Elmgrove LeRoc.
- Hallelujah or Fountain at The Third Row.
Books
- Overhead Hand Change 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
- Overhead Change 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.
- Overhead Change in How To Jive — Featuring Music By The Firebirds.