8. Swing out

Here, as in almost all the figures, the connected arms are never completely straight, even in the heels figure on the previous page The leader "Kicks left and skips right on 3", meaning both at the same time, kicking while skipping, a "kick-skip". Their feet are close together so, when he next puts his left foot down.... ....they rotate quite a bit.

 

 

 

From closed position, the pattern is the same as the 360 turn from 1-6. On 7, the leader lets go with his right hand and continues with his 360 turn footwork.

For the leader: To get back to closed position, the leader

• rock steps left right on 1,2
• Kicks left and skips right on 3
• Steps with the left turning clockwise 180 degrees
• From there, a 360 turn or swing out

Having swung out, the leader needs to get close again to the follower but he is on the wrong foot relative to hers, so on 3 he kicks with the unweighter left foot and skips on over to her with the weighted foot both at the same time (see 2nd still, left). A skip is sometimes referred to as a hop, and indicates taking a step with the foot that is already weighted.

 

For the follower,

• she rock steps, right left on 1,2
• Kicks right and skips with the left foot on 3
• Steps with the right foot on 4

 

 

Good couple rotation is easier if the feet of the leader and follower are close together, just as a top is easier to spin than a drum.

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