The Lindy Turn is the most characteristic move of Lindy Hop. Most of the other moves in Lindy Hop have
been adapted for use in other dances at one time or another, but the Lindy Turn remains a distinctive
signature move of Lindy Hop and closely related swing dances (in particular,
West Coast Swing has an equivalent move known as the Whip).
Also known as the Swing Out, it allows the dancers to
express themselves by introducing variations to the core move, particularly on beats 1, 2, 7 & 8.
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1. M:BL W:TweFR Start from an open position, with the leader's left hand holding the follower's right hand. The leader takes a step backward on his left foot, momentarily rocking his weight back onto that foot. The follower steps slightly forward on her right foot with a twist step.
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(image: hand grip) |
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2. M:RR W:TwFL The leader replaces his weight on his right foot, rocking back forwards. The leader begins to draw his left hand toward himself to lead the follower to step towards him. The follower steps forward on her left foot with a twist step.
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(image: twist step closeup) |
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3. M:FL2R W:FR2R The leader steps forward on his left foot; the leader's right hand moves to hold the follower's back. The leader continues the movement of his left hand towards himself by moving it to his left, so that his left hand has moved through a J shape. The follower steps forward on her right foot and lifts her left hand to place it on the leader's right shoulder.
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(image: J-shape lead) |
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&. M:TR1R W:TL1R The leader closes his right foot to his left foot, continuing to turn slightly to his right. The follower closes her left foot to her right foot, continuing to turn slightly to her right. The leader's and the follower's bodies should face each other straight on with some distance between them, forming a frame. Avoid ending up side by side.
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(image: avoid ending side by side) |
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4. M:FL1R W:FR1R The leader steps forward on his left foot, turning another slightly right and then starts to pull his right hand towards himself to lead the follower to step forwards on the next beat. The follower steps forward on her right foot, turning another slightly right. At the end of this beat the dancers are facing in the opposite direction to where they started.
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(image: leader pulls follower forward) |
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5. M:HR2R W:FL2R The leader steps with his right foot back and behind his other foot, turning another 90° right in order to get out of the way of the follower's step, pulling the follower towards himself with his right hand and immediately letting go. The follower steps forward on her left foot, turning another 90° right to keep facing her partner (although some dancers prefer that the follower faces away from the leader until beat 6 or 7).
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(image: cross behind closeup) |
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6. M:SL2R W:HR2R The leader takes a step to the side on his left foot, continuing to turn another 90° to his right. The follower takes a step with her right foot back and behind her other foot, continuing to turn another 90° to her right. Alternatively, the follower can step with her right foot across in front of her other foot, rather than behind.
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(image: alternative footwork: follower cross in front) |
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7. M:eBR W:eBL The leader takes a step slightly backward on his right foot. The follower takes a step slightly backward on her left foot. The dancers should not move too far away from each other; both dancer's arms should still be slightly bent at the elbow.
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&. M:TL W:TR The leader closes his left foot to his right foot. The follower closes her right foot to her left foot.
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(image: elbows slightly bent) |
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8. M:RR W:RL The leader replaces his weight on his right foot. The follower replaces her weight on her left foot.
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(image: avoid straight arms) |