Come Around

This sequence involves the same rhythm as the previous example, where the first half of the move involves steps on beats 123x (step-step-step-hold), but the second half of the move changes that pattern to 56x8 (step-step-hold-step).

In the Come Around from Cross Overs sequence, the previous move was the Cross Overs which has a 123x567x rhythm; this means that the first half of that move continues the rhythm of the previous move (step-step-step-hold).

For this sequence, the Come Around may be performed immediately after a Balboa Basic, which uses a different rhythm: 12x456x8 (step-step-hold-step). This means that the leader needs to make it very clear for the follower that the rhythm of the steps is changing. This is possible because the dancers are in a close hold position; the leader can use his right arm and the contact between the dancers' torsos to push the follower's weight onto her right hand side on beat 3 (when she would normally hold for a beat).

The second half of the move returns to the 56x8 rhythm (step-step-hold-step), and so a Balboa Basic can smoothly follow this move.

front view reverse view behind view
1. M:BL W:FR 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. The follower takes a step forward on her right foot.
2. M:TR W:TL The leader closes his right foot to his left foot. The follower closes her left foot to her right foot.
3. M:TL1R W:TR1R The leader closes his left foot to his right foot, turning slightly to his right. The follower closes her right foot to her left foot, turning slightly to her right.
4. M:StR W:StL The leader lifts his right foot next to his left foot, with the right knee bent. The follower lifts her left foot next to her right foot, with the left knee bent.
5. M:TR2R W:TL2R The leader closes his right foot to his left foot, turning 90° to his right. The follower closes her left foot to her right foot, turning 90° to her right.
6. M:TL2R W:TR2R The leader closes his left foot to his right foot, continuing to turn another 90° to his right. The follower closes her right foot to her left foot, continuing to turn another 90° to her right.
7. M:StR W:StL The leader lifts his right foot next to his left foot, with the right knee bent. The follower lifts her left foot next to her right foot, with the left knee bent.
8. M:TR W:TL The leader closes his right foot to his left foot. The follower closes her left foot to her right foot.
 
 
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Welcome

Welcome to an incomplete book about Lindy Hop.

I wrote the text here five years ago, based on my notes from when I was originally learning Lindy Hop in the mid-1990s. My original plan was to take a large number of illustrative photographs, which would make the bare text much more comprehensible.

However, that was five years ago and I've not gotten as far as taking a single photograph. So rather than waiting any longer, I thought it worth releasing the text as-is, in case it's useful to anyone else.

I'd interested to hear any feedback, but unfortunately I can't promise to do much about it.

And maybe one day I'll get as far as illustrating the book, and creating the originally-intended printed version:

This book is dedicated to the memory of Frankie Manning (1914-2009), Ambassador of Lindy Hop.

David Drysdale
November 2012

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