A handhold is a manner in which the dancers hold each other's hands during the dance. A hold is the way one partner holds another one with hands. Hold and handhold are important components of connection in dance.
Couple dances Waist-hand hold Shoulder-waist hold Shoulder blade hold Ballroom hold Banjo hold Barn dance hold Butterfly hold: in face-to-face dance position, the arms are extended sideways palm to palm, elbows slightly bent Shoulder hold (varsouvienne hold) Cross-back hold Promenade hold Short-arm hold Skaters hold Back skaters hold: partners side-by-side, same hands joined, man right arm around lady's waist with right hands on the lady's right hip, left hands joined in front, man's hand palm up Front skaters hold V hold Hammerlock hold Sweetheart hold Cuddle hold
Line/circle dances When danced in line or circle formation, the handholds usually connect a dancer with the two immediate neighbors, sometimes with the two second next neighbors. Exceptions are free hands of the first and last persons in the line formation.
A number of these holds may be used in couple dances (a couple is a line of just two).
Shoulder hold Chain hold Basket hold Front basket hold: Arms are extended sideways in front of the neighbors to connect with the arms of the second next person Back basket hold: Arms are extended sideways behind the neighbors to connect with the arms of the second next person Belt hold: Each dancer holds the belts of the neighbors Escort hold: one arm slightly rounded with arm at waist level, the neighbor from this side place the opposite hand on the forearm through the space formed by founded arm
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