Sway (5 counts ; 10 musical beats) : Brief Description

Steps

1: (Step back)

The man leads the lady to move backwards (stepping back on her right foot in preparation for an anticlockwise rotation) — by pushing her right hand slightly with his right hand — as he moves backwards-left off the lady's line, leaving it free for her to step forwards.

Some men signal the Sway by keeping their left arm out to their left with their forearm parallel to the floor and pointing forwards palm face up — this is a stylised preparation to catch the lady's left arm, as she comes into the sway.

2: ()

The man leads the lady to move forwards and rotate 180^o anticlockwise (with weight on her left leg) (the lady keeps her left arm horizontal, out to her left at waist height, as she rotates) — by pulling her right hand slightly with his right hand forwards and to his right — as he moves forwards so that she comes into his right side modifying the right hand grip so that he holds the lady's right hand between his thumb and forefinger against her right hip, and takes the lady's left hand in his left hand.

3: (Sway back)

The man leads the lady to rotate slightly clockwise (with weight on her left leg) in a sway back, i.e. so that she ends stepped back on her right foot, optionally looking over her right shoulder to emphasize the movement — by pulling her right hip slightly backwards — as he rotates slightly clockwise (with weight on his right leg) in a sway back, i.e. he steps back looking over his right shoulder.

For a different “tighter” look, the follower can rotate more — rather than stepping back.

Depending on the styling the man can step backwards on either the outside (left), or inside foot (right) — the led sway movement means that the lady steps backwards on her outside (right) foot — some people kick forwards before stepping back.

The man has a definite sight-line towards the lady here.

Rather than the man taking the lady's left arm (assuming that she kept it pointing to her left at waist or shoulder height) the lady can bring her left arm across herself with the man bringing his left arm across her without taking hold.

4: (Sway forwards)

The man leads the lady to rotate slightly anticlockwise (with weight on her left leg) and sway forwards, e.g. by closing her outside (right) foot to her left foot — by pushing her right hip slightly forwards — as he rotates slightly anticlockwise (with weight on his left leg) and sways forwards, e.g. by closing his feet together.

5: ()

The man leads the lady to move forwards-left and rotate 180^o clockwise (with weight on her right leg) — by pushing the lady's left arm slightly with his left hand and releasing her right hip after pulling it slightly with his right hand (keeping hold of the lady's right hand in his right hand) — as he moves backwards.

6: (Finish)