WEEK 11 - May 7th 2008

Tonight we decided to change things up a bit and learn some jive. Its a less crazy version of the ballroom jive which you might have seen on TV, but its a lot of fun, especially because there's a wide variety of music that you can dance it to. The key is (and contrary to everything we've taught you before!), to NOT WORRY ABOUT YOUR FEET : ) Just go with the flow and have fun.

We gave you a 4 move routine:

1. SWIVELS IN TIME
Take a double hand hold with your partner, and both step back to indicate the start. Then, both partners swivel to your left, then to the right, and to the left again. Emphasise this with your arm movements. Leaders, raise your left arm (letting go of your follower with the right!); followers turn under the arm clockwise, and then turn anticlockwise to face your leader again. The whole move should take 8 counts, with each step I've described taking one count except for the turn, which takes 2 counts for each direction.

2. THE OPENING OUT
Again, leaders left to followers right hand hold and both partners step back (just not too far out!). Followers, take a step forward to the leaders right side and place your left hand on their right shoulder; leaders, drive your left hand down and you will see that this causes your follower to swivel out and face the same direction as you. To get your followers to return to face you again, pull your left hand up again. Leaders, raise that left hand a little higher - followers, again, turn clockwise over 2 counts, and anticlockwise over 2 counts. Fabulous.

3. CHANGING PLACES
This time, take a double hand hold and take a step back. Leaders, wrap your follower into your right side still holding both hands. Followers, you are turning anticlockwise, letting your right hand go over your head, so that you end up at the leaders side, and with your arms crossed. Leaders, let go with your right hand and turn to face your follower. Now its the leaders turn to wrap into the followers right side. This time, followers, let go of that right hand and turn to face the leader. For final change of place, followers repeat your move. You should end facing each other in a 2 hand hold.

4. AMERICAN SPIN
You may have seen this move before. Leaders, toss your followers right hand into your right hand (you could actually do this with style, by literally tossing your followers hand up into the air, and appearing to catch it with your right hand, a bit like juggling!). Drive your right hand forward to make your leader step back, then bring your hand forward to make them step forward, and create a cup shape with your hand....that's it! Your followers will spin themselves, otherwise, with an added push from you, you might just send them into orbit! Followers: when the leader makes their hand into a cup shape, make a fist (or ball shape) with your hand, and use the resistance of the leader to spin yourself clockwise. You don't even need to push against their hand. In fact, lets not try to push our leaders over!

End facing each other, and ready to begin again!