Slow Comb (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 right hand.
The man leads the lady to move backwards — by pushing her right hand slightly with his right hand — as he moves backwards.
- 2: (Step in, and comb yourself)
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 right hand.
The man leads the lady to move forwards — by pulling her right hand slightly with his right hand — as he moves forwards and brings his right hand (and the lady's right hand) over his head in a combing motion, ending so that it finishes with the man holding her right hand on his right shoulder.
The Comb should be led, so that the hand is placed on to the same shoulder, as the man's hand — as the arm doing the comb, i.e. for a right-handed comb the man's hand should be placed onto his right shoulder — this creates a better line, otherwise the man's elbow will tend to point upwards — with the added “bonus” of exposing his (sweaty) armpit to the lady at close quarters — probably unwise after several hours of vigorous dancing.
- 3: ()
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's right hand is near to his left shoulder.
The man leads the lady to leave her right hand in-place, on his left shoulder — by pressing the lady's hand onto his left shoulder — as he releases the lady's right hand from his right hand and brings his right hand onto her left shoulder.
- 4: ()
The lady faces south directly in front of the man, who faces north.
There is no handhold — the man holds the lady's left shoulder with his right hand — the lady holds the man's left shoulder with her right hand.
- 5: ()
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's right hand is near to the lady's left shoulder.
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) — by unwinding her slightly and raising his right hand (and the lady's right hand) from the lady's left shoulder to above the her head.
- 6: (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's left 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 pushing her right hand slightly with his left hand — as he lowers his left hand (and the lady's right hand) to waist height and moves backwards.
- 7: (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 right hand.
Notes
Variations
For a faster, more dramatic, variation the man can go from being stepped away from the lady to both having arms on shoulders — the man leads and releases (throws) the lady's right hand onto his left shoulder, whilst he places his hand on (or behind) the lady's left shoulder.
During the combs, the man can lead the lady to walk with him, either backwards / forwards. One useful lead is to have the lady's right hand combed onto the front of the man's shoulder with her fingers cupped over it — this means that the man can lead the lady to walk away / towards him with the pressure of his shoulder against her hand.