Double Turn Under

In this move, the leader extends the follower's turning motion from a normal Turn Under, so that she performs two complete rotations. To lead this, the leader keeps his left hand high and once the follower finishes her first turn, he once again pushes away at a level above her shoulder.

The leader knows in advance that a normal six-beat move is going to be extended to take eight beats, and so he can use a normal eight-beat rhythm with his footwork (even-odd-even-odd). For the follower, the extension comes as a surprise so she will have to extend the six-beat rhythm of a normal Turn Under (even-odd-odd) with an additional two steps for the second turn (even-odd-odd-even).

The leader can also choose to add more than one extra turn, by repeating his lead and with both dancers adding two steps for each extended pair of beats. The leader shouldn't add too many repetitions, because multiple turns are likely to make the follower dizzy.


front view reverse view detail
1. M:BL W:BR1R Start from an closed position, with the leader's left hand holding the follower's right hand. The leader takes a step backward on his left foot, pushing the follower away with his left hand. The follower takes a step backward on her right foot, turning slightly to her right.
2. M:RR W:RL1L The leader replaces his weight on his right foot. The follower replaces her weight on her left foot, turning slightly to her left, so she directly faces the leader again.
3. M:eSL W:eSR The leader takes a step slightly to the side on his left foot, lifting his left hand and beginning to slightly extend the space between the dancers. The follower takes a step slightly to the side on her right foot.
&. M:TR W:TL The leader closes his right foot to his left foot. The follower closes her left foot to her right foot.
4. M:eSL W:eSR The leader takes a step slightly to the side on his left foot, with his left hand now lifted to the just above the follower's right shoulder. The follower takes a step slightly to the side on her right foot.
5. M:RR W:XL4R The leader replaces his weight on his right foot, pushing his left hand away from his body to turn the follower, while also drawing his right hand across to the left and letting go of the follower's left hip. The follower takes a step with her left foot across and in front of her other foot, turning 180° to her right. (image: direction of lead)
&. M:0B W:TR2R The leader doesn't take a step (as he is using an eight-beat rhythm). The follower closes her right foot to her left foot, continuing to turn another 90° to her right.
6. M:RL W:RL4R The leader replaces his weight on his left foot, keeping his left hand lifted, so that as the follower completes her first turn he can smoothly lead her to continue with another turn. The follower replaces her weight on her left foot, continuing to turn another 180° to her right.
7. M:RR W:RR4R The leader replaces his weight on his right foot, continuing to turn the follower. The follower replaces her weight on her right foot, continuing to turn another 180° to her right.
&. M:RL W:0B The leader replaces his weight on his left foot. The follower doesn't take a step.
8. M:RR W:TL2R The leader replaces his weight on his right foot, lowering his left hand as the follower completes her second turn. The follower closes her left foot to her right foot, turning 90° to her right, completing her second turn.
 
 

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