Slow Backhander (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: (Twist out)
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 bringing his left hand (and the lady's right hand) to his right, across the lady — as he rotates slightly anticlockwise (with weight on his left leg).
The lady should place her left hand on the man's right shoulder, if she has not already done so.
- 4: ()
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's right hand is past the lady's left hip.
The man leads the lady to move forwards past his right side and rotate 180o clockwise (with weight on her right leg) — by swapping the lady's right hand from his left hand into his right hand keeping the hands low and pulling her left hand slightly with his right hand to start her rotation — as he moves forwards-right and rotates 180o clockwise (with weight on his right leg).
The man can kneel down slightly here, letting the lady “drag” him round.
- 5: ()
The lady faces north directly in front of the man, who faces south.
The man holds the lady's right hand in his right hand.
The man leads the lady to turn 360o clockwise (with weight on her right leg) under his right hand (and the lady's right hand)once the lady is unwound from the previous step and is facing him — by raising his right hand (and the lady's right hand) from waist height to above the lady's head — as he stands up from his crouching position.
- 6: (Step back)
The lady faces north directly in front of the man, who faces south.
The man holds the lady's right hand in his right hand — the man's right 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 lowering his right hand (and the lady's right hand) from head height to waist height and pushing her right hand slightly with his right hand — as he moves backwards.
- 7: (Finish)
The lady faces north stepped away directly in front of the man, who faces south.
The man holds the lady's right hand in his right hand.
Books
- Slow back hander in The Dance Manual. Andy Galloway. Lyndenhurst Ltd, 38 Ashley Road, London, N19 3AF, UK, 1988.