Instructional Video

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Swing Lesson 5: Double Rhythm Basic.
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Practice CD

Lesson 1A: Double Rhythm Basic

In dancing the Double Rhythm "slow," we touch on the first beat and step on the second. For the Double Rhythm Basic, a "slow" involves a "touch-step" rather than the "step-touch" of the Single Rhythm Basic. However, the slow still occupies two beats.

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Count	Rhythm	Man's Part	Lead	Woman's Part
1-2	S	LF Tc IP on Count "1" LF Sd on Count "2"	Open Swing Position	RF Tc IP on Count "1" RF Sd on Count "2"
3-4	S	RF Tc IP on Count "3" RF Sd on Count "4"	.	LF Tc IP on Count "3" LF Sd on Count "4"
5	q	LF Bd	.	RF Bd
6	q	RF Fd IP	.	LF Fd IP

Open Break Position

Basically, there are only two directions you can turn: to your right, and to your left. However, through the use of different hand holds in Open Position, hundreds of variations can be achieved. Open Position can be executed with a variety of hand hold positions. Partners should stand facing each other about one step apart.

Single Hand Hold

The woman's right hand should be placed palm down in the man's left hand.

Double Hand Hold

The woman’s right and left hands are placed respectively palms down in the man’s left and right hands.

Shaking Right Hands

Partners stand facing one another shaking right hands. Hands should be held fingers-to-fingers as opposed to palm-to-palm in a true handshake.

Shaking Left Hands

Partners stand facing one another shaking left hands. Hands should be held fingers-to-fingers as opposed to palm-to-palm in a true handshake.

Closed Swing Position

The Closed Swing Position has the same upper body positioning as normal Closed Position. The man’s lower body is angled slightly to his left, and the woman’s lower body is angled slightly to her right. A “V” should be formed by maintaining a loose connection between the man’s right and woman’s left hips.

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