Pretzel (7 counts ; 14 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-right to his right of the lady's line, leaving it free for her to step forwards.
- 2: (Step in)
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 right hand is in a hammerlock (behind his back) so that his right hand is near to his left waist.
The man leads the lady to move forwards past his left side to take his right hand in her left hand — by raising his left hand (and the lady's right hand) from waist height to above head height in an arch — as he moves forwards.
- 3: ()
The lady faces south stepped away on the left of and slightly behind 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's left hand is at head height — the man's right hand is in a hammerlock (behind his back) so that his right hand is near to his left waist.
The man leads the lady to move right behind his back — by pulling her left hand slightly with his right hand — as he moves left, lowers his left hand (and the lady's right hand) to waist height in a hammerlock and raises his right hand (and the lady's left hand) to shoulder height past his right side.
- 4: ()
The lady faces north stepped away on the right of and slightly behind 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's left hand is in a hammerlock (behind his back) so that his left hand is near to his right waist.
The man leads the lady to turn 180o clockwise (with weight on her right leg) under his right hand (and the lady's left hand) — by bringing his right hand (and the lady's left hand) in a clockwise loop between himself and the lady, keeping the hands high.
Depending on the required styling, the man can swivel slightly clockwise to face the lady more.
- 5: ()
The lady faces north stepped away on the right of and slightly behind 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's left hand is in a hammerlock (behind his back) so that his left hand is near to his right waist — the man's right hand is at head height.
The man leads the lady to move left (behind his back) — by pulling her left hand slightly with his right hand — as he moves right.
- 6: ()
The lady faces north stepped away on the left of and slightly behind 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 right-to-left hands are over the left-to-right hands — the man's right hand is at head height.
The man leads the lady to move forwards and turn 180o clockwise (with weight on her right leg) under his right hand (and the lady's right hand) — by bringing his left hand (and the lady's left hand) forwards and bringing his right hand (and the lady's right hand) over his head from his right to his left — as he moves backwards.
- 7: (Step back)
The lady faces south 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 backwards — by pushing her left hand slightly with his left hand and pushing her right hand slightly with his right hand — as he lowers his left hand (and the lady's left hand) and lowers his right hand (and the lady's right hand) to waist height and moves backwards.
- 8: (Finish)
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.
Notes
Variations
Can exit the lady into a Basket.
Links
- Pretzel at Bath Leroc. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- Pretzel at Cardiff Le Roc and Dance. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- Pretzel at leroc.net. 2001. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- Pretzel at Robert Pepper's Website. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- Pretzel, Shoulder Slide and Back Pass at Leroc Scotland.
- Pretzel, Wurlitzer and Back Pass at Leroc Scotland.
- Pretzel at The Third Row.
Books
- Pretzel in The Dance Manual. Andy Galloway. Lyndenhurst Ltd, 38 Ashley Road, London, N19 3AF, UK, 1988.
Videos
- Pretzel 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.
- Pretzel in How To Jive — Featuring Music By The Firebirds.