Left Side Starter Outside Turn Into a Weird Handshake Position

Left-side starter outside turn into a weird handshake position #

This is a pattern that Ray Trusty taught me.

Start in a [starter] position. Steps 1, 2, and 3& are done while facing 9 o’clock. Step 1 is to 6 o’clock. Step 2 is to 6 o’clock, but you must cross your right leg behind your left leg. Step 3 in the 3& is a back towards 3 o’clock so that your left foot goes backwards more so than where the right foot is standing. It looks better than doing the 3& in place. Step & in the 3& is done almost in place because there is very little travel towards 6 o’clock. Step 4 is diagonal towards 7:30 o’clock. Your left foot may be able to finish pointing directly at 6 o’clock. Steps 5&6 are an anchor step. You should end in an [weird handshake] position.

For the handwork, you should be able to do this pattern with your left hand in your pocket. On beats 1 and 2 your hand stays on the follower’s left shoulder. On step 3&4 you do a push-and-pull to lead the follower into a 0.5 clockwise turn. For the pulling motion on 4, you may need to use your right-hand fingertips to leverage the follower’s left shoulder blade groove. Without the grove, you will have nowhere to pull from. If you lead the 3&4 correctly, the follower will do a [right side-check] while turning 0.25 turns clockwise. The remaining 0.25 clockwise turn will be done by the follower on the anchor step. On 5&6, as the follower turns clockwise, slide your right hand across the follower’s back while rotating it into a [weird handshake] position without losing connection with the follower at any point throughout the entire pattern.

Next pattern suggestion:

• [handshake reverse whip]