Sway (5 counts ; 10 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 (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 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 right hand.
The man leads the lady to move forwards and rotate 180o 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 lady faces north on the right side of the man, who faces north.
The man holds the lady's right hand in his right hand.
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 lady faces northeast on the right side of the man, who faces northeast.
The man holds the lady's right hand in his right hand — the man holds the lady's right hip with his right hand.
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 lady faces north on the right side of the man, who faces north.
The man's left palm is against the lady's left forearm and holds the lady's right hand in his right hand — the man holds the lady's right hip with his right hand.
The man leads the lady to move forwards-left and rotate 180o 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)
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
The salsa version has both man and lady stepping backwards on their inside feet.
A double Sway can be led by leading the lady out to face and immediately leading her into a Sway position — some people use extra styling during the middle “spring out” so that both partners mirror each other extending their left arm out towards each other through the middle, palms towards each other.
In the Sway position the man can lead the lady to either dip slightly, or to sit on his right leg.
The Sway can be lead into a “blues sway” position, where the man and lady's feet alternate, lady is off-centre of the man slightly to his right, but in front of him. This position can be quick and dramatic and can be held for a pose for several beats.
A popular combination is to use a Sway as a prelude to a Drop Kick — when the lady is turned-out, the double handhold is maintained, so that the lady “pauses” briefly in front of the man, facing the same direction — with a handhold between them. This position is ideal for starting a drop kick.
A Sway can be a useful replacement instead of a return.
Do a top-turn out and then step back
Simply lasso out of the Sway.
One variation on a First Move Sway is to “extend” the move, by following it with a double top-turn, rather than leading the lady to a facing position — which is analogous to extending a False Neckbreak to a Neckbreak.
Do a free-spin out and then step back
Alternate ending including a spin for the lady and (optional) spin for the man:
Both partners can travel forwards during the spins, creating a travelling variation.
Man can spin in the opposite direction.
Alternate ending man maintains handhold and turns 180o away from the lady
into a “catapult” position.
Sway into reverse butterfly.
Ending to drop-kick.
Man steps under lady's arm — turns to face her.
A salsa-style variation is for the man to release the lady's right hand, after initiating the lead into his right side.
Both partners are then free to shimmy, in-place to the beat.
Can lead interruptions, by catching the lady's left hip as she exits — either into a Return in front, or into a travelling version like a bananarama, to end behind the man.
Links
- Closed Sway at Bath Leroc. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- Open Sway and spin at Bath Leroc. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- Sway at Cardiff Le Roc and Dance. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- Sway at leroc.net. 2001. Hosted at The Internet Archive.
- Sway at Dance Yourself Dizzy. Alternative link 1.
- Closed Sway at Elmgrove LeRoc.
- Sway at The Third Row.
Books
- Sway in The Dance Manual. Andy Galloway. Lyndenhurst Ltd, 38 Ashley Road, London, N19 3AF, UK, 1988.
- Sway 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
- Sway 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.
- Sway in How To Jive — Featuring Music By The Firebirds.
- Sway in Le Jive, Le Video — The Complete Instruction Video. Robert Austin and Claire Hilliard. DD Video, DD Video, 5 Churchill Court, 58 Station Road, North Harrow, Middlesex, HA2 7SA, UK, 1995.