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Sugar pushes #
On 1, step back with left foot, on 2, step back with right foot, on 3&4 do a rock step, and on 5&6 do an anchor step.
Sugar push outside pivot turn #
Also known as a Sugar Tuck.
On 1 step back, on 2 raise your left hand to the follower’s ear level such that the hands are palm-to-palm. The leader’s hand can be pointing straight up at 12 o’clock or angled, pointing at 10 o’clock. The left arm should be kept close to the body before and after the turn, as if holding a piece of paper under the armpit, even during the turn. On 3&4 do the rock step while slightly pressing into the followers raised hand. The follower should press your hand back with the same amount of force to achieve compression. The turn should begin immediately on 4 after the compression was created on 3& and movement forwards has begun. The turn should be completed in one beat so there is time for the follower to anchor on the 5&6.
Sugar push inside pivot turn #
Start in an [open] position. On step 2 raise your left hand and make it perpendicular to the floor. Your hand must be aligned with the follower’s left shoulder. The hand connection should be palm-to-palm and the leader’s left hand should be pointing at 2 o’clock to indicate the direction of the pivot turn. On 3&4 generate compression on the 3& and begin the turn on 4 as you step forwards. End in an [open] position.
Goofy sugar push inside pivot turn #
Start in a [goofy] position. On step 2 raise your right hand to her face level and align your right hand with her left shoulder while your hand points at 2 o’clock. On step 3&4 do compression on 3& and begin the counter-clockwise turn around her head on 4 as you step forwards. Anchor on 5&6. You should end in a [goofy] position.
Goofy sugar push outside pivot turn #
Start in a [goofy] position. On step 2 raise your right hand to her face level and align your right hand a couple of inches above her forehead while your hand points at 10 o’clock. On step 3&4 do compression on 3& and begin the clockwise turn around her head on 4 as you step forwards. Anchor on 5&6. You should end in a [goofy] position.
Handshake sugar push outside pivot turn #
Start in a [handshake] or [spiderman handshake] position. On step 2 raise your right hand to her face level and align your right hand a couple of inches above her forehead while your hand points at 10 o’clock. On step 3&4 do compression on 3& and begin the turn on 4 as you step forwards. Anchor on 5&6. You should end in a [handshake] position.
Next pattern suggestion:
- weird handshake left-side pass inside chain turn right picture hold
- Sugar push inside pivot turn into closed position
No-triple sugar tuck #
This is a sugar tuck but the 3&4 becomes a 3 and 4 step-tap because the & goes away.
For the leader’s footwork, there is no 3&4, it is only 3 and 4. Step 1 is back, step 2 is back and to the right. Step 3 is a tap step such that the leg points to the floor and slightly to the left, but your weight is still on your right leg from step 2. On step 4, you shift weight onto your left leg that was pointing to the floor. Steps 5&6 are an anchor step.
The follower also has the option to avoid the triple step by simply stepping forward on 1 with the right foot into point A, forward on 2 with the left foot while having the right foot plant fully flexed and still positioned on point A. Compression will happen on 3& like usual, and the right foot will rotate clockwise around point A on 4 to perform the outside turn.
Followers also have the advanced option to perform no-triple sugar tucks by kicking with the right leg on 2 and using the leg’s momentums to propel oneself through the turn.
Single-arm turn-in #
The footwork is the same as in a sugar push for the leader. Use it from an [open] hold. Steps 1 and 2 are for executing a [piston] so the follower will turn 180 degrees into [back-to-front] position by the end of step 2. On 3& raise your left arm over her head. On 4 gently push her back in between her shoulder blades so she knows to walk under the arm. Steps 5&6 are an anchor step. You should end in a [back-to-front] position.
Double-arm turn-in #
Same as [single-arm turn-in], but use both hands to do a [left hammerlock]. It is technically possible to achieve the same by doing a sugar tuck while holding the follower’s left hand, but the correct way is to do a pump prep, which happens at waist level. You should end in a [left hammerlock] position.
Head drape #
Same as a [hairbrush], but the hand goes over the follower’s head. Also known as a head-wrap.
Start in a [handshake] position; a [scout] hold also works. The footwork is the same as in a sugar push; only the handwork changes. For the head-wrap, bring your right and her right hand to her nose level on 1 while stepping back. On 2, move your right hand from her nose level to her nape and leave her right hand on her nape. On 3&4 slide your right hand down her left arm to go into a [goofy] handhold and post to avoid moving further down the slot. On 5&6 do an anchor step. You should end in a [goofy] position.
If you start in a [scout] position, the [head drape] would end in an [open] position.
Next pattern suggestion:
- [head drape into starter] position
Head drape into starter #
Start in a [handshake] position. Same as a [head drape] up to step 2. For the handwork, on 3&4, rather than sliding your right arm down the follower’s left arm, you will slide your right hand under the follower’s left armpit to go into a [closed] position; curl your wrist and fingers before you slide your right hand under the armpit and smoothly twist your wrist from 9:00 to 6:00 to 3:00 like drawing the letter U with your wrist as you slide under the armpit; at the same time on 3&4, grab the follower’s right hand with your left hand as if going in an [open] position.
For the footwork, on 4, you will step towards 12:00 with your left toes pointing at 10:30. On 5&6 do an anchor step; end facing 9:00 with your body and toes; be in a [starter] position.
Next pattern suggestion:
- [closed right-side pass redirect]
Hairbrush #
Same as a [head drape], but the hand goes over the leader’s head. Also known as a head-wrap.
Start in a [handshake] position; a [scout] hold also works. The footwork is the same as in a sugar push; only the handwork changes. For the head-wrap, bring your right and her right hand to your nose level on 1 while stepping back. On 2, move your right hand from your nose level to your nape and leave her right hand on your nape. On 3&4 she may slide her right hand down your left arm to go into a [goofy] handhold; post at the end of 4 to avoid moving further down the slot. On 5&6 do an anchor step. You should end in a [goofy] position.
If you start in a [scout] position, the [head drape] would end in an [open] position.
Sugar tuck chase #
Same as a sugar tuck up to but not including step 4. Step 4 should be big and steps 5&6 should be big steps backward as the tuck turn happens. Usually, the follower does a turn, but this time the follower will do a 1.5 turn so the follower is facing backward. The leader should be on the follower’s left side, with the chest pointing to the followers left shoulder, in a [starter] position. The [starter] position can be followed by a passing tuck!
Sugar tuck pirouette #
Same as a tuck turn, but on step 4 the left hand applies more force so the follower can do a double spin. Make sure to draw a halo around the follower’s head twice.
Chuck turn into weird handshake #
A pattern that Chuck Anders taught me.
Start in an [open] position. The footwork is the same as a [sugar push outside pivot turn] up but not including step 4. On step 4, rather than stepping forward into the slot at 12 o’clock, step forward and to the right slightly outside of the slot at 3 o’clock. On 5&6 do 0.5 turns clockwise so you will face 9 o’clock by the end of the pattern. The handwork is the same up to step 4. On 5&6 bring both of your hands to your lower back to swap the follower’s right hand from your left hand to your right hand. The swap should happen around 5&. By 6 you should be in a [weird handshake].
Sugar push right shoulder slide #
Start in an [open] position. The footwork is the same as in a sugar push. The only difference is the handwork and the middle-body work. The handwork on 1 and 2 is bringing your left hand over your head and then to your right shoulder. The palm of your hand should point up and be parallel to the floor on 1 to create a frame that looks like an upside-down, mirrored letter L (o˥) so that your head will go under the frame. In specific, your left hand should be about 1 inch above your head and the palm of your left hand should be horizontal and your fingers should point at 9 o’clock whenever the hand is over your head, and your left wrist should be aligned with your right ear. At the end of 2, the back your left hand should be pressed against the right side of your neck, so release the follower’s right hand because it has been positioned in your right shoulder. Depending on the follower’s arm-reach and your height, you will need to bend your back on 1 and 2 so that the follower is able to have the right hand go over your head and reach the right shoulder. On 3&4 keep your left hand at the right shoulder while offering your right hand by placing it under-and-in-front of your left elbow. The follower’s hand should slide down your left forearm onto your right hand by the end of 4. You should be in an regular [handshake] or a [spiderman handshake] by the end of 5&6.
Sugar push left shoulder slide #
Start in a [goofy] or [parallel] position. The footwork is the same as in a sugar push. The only difference is the handwork and the middle-body work. The handwork on 1 and 2 is bringing your right hand over your head and then to your left shoulder. The palm of your hand should point up and be parallel to the floor on 1 to create a frame that looks like an upside-down L (Γo) so that your head will go under the frame. In specific, your right hand should be about 1 inch above your head and the palm of your left hand should be horizontal and your fingers should point at 3 o’clock whenever the hand is over your head, and your right wrist should be aligned with your left ear. At the end of 2, the back your right hand should be pressed against the left side of your neck, so release the follower’s left hand because it has been positioned in your left shoulder. Depending on the follower’s arm-reach and your height, you will need to bend your back on 1 and 2 so that the follower is able to have the left hand go over your head and reach the left shoulder. On 3&4 keep your right hand at the left shoulder while offering your left hand by placing it under-and-in-front of your right elbow. The follower’s hand should slide down your right forearm onto your right left by the end of 4. You should be in an regular [scout] or a [spiderman scout] handshake by the end of 5&6.
Sugar push lead outside pivot turn to handshake #
Alternate names:
- Sugar push clockwise hand change
- Sugar push leader clockwise turn
Start from an [open] position. This step is the same as a sugar push up to step 4. On steps 5&6, do the footwork of a salsa right turn (for steps 2, 3, and 5). In other words, the right foot steps at 5 o’clock moving backwards, then the left foot at 7 o’clock doing a 180 degree clockwise turn and stepping in front of the right foot, and then the right foot at 12 o’clock moving forward. On step 5 bring your right hand to your lower back with the palm of your hand open and pointing away, ready to grab the incoming hand. On step 5, as the outside pivot turn finished, bring your left hand to your lower back while holding the followers hand, and then swap the follower’s hand to your right hand. By the end of the &6 you should be in a [handshake] position. If you only do 0.75 turns instead of the full turn, you will not be face-to-face with the follower. You may use this as styling, but it will make the following pattern harder to do.
Alternative explanation:
Start from an [open] position. Do a sugar push, but on 4, step with the left foot such that you face 3 o’clock. On 5 of the 5&6 rotate clockwise to face 12 o’clock while swapping the follower’s hand from your left hand to your right hand at butt-to-waist level behind your back. On the &6 of the 5&6 complete the turn.
Alternative explanation:
Start from an [open] position. The footwork and handwork are the same as in a [sugar push] up to 3&. The footwork on 4 is with your left foot stepping forward pointing at 2 o’clock. On 5&6 do a clockwise pivot turn while switching hands behind your back the hand-switch from your left hand to right hand should happen on 5 around the butt-to-waist level while you are facing 6 o’clock. At the end your body should point at 9 o’clock. You should end up in a [handshake] position.
Sugar push lead inside pivot turn to scout position #
Start from an [open] or [goofy] position. The footwork and handwork are the same as in a [sugar push] up to 4. The footwork on 5&6 is the same as in a salsa left turn. During 5&6 switch the follower’s left hand from your right hand onto your left hand. You should end in a [scout] position.
Sugar push clockwise duck to handshake #
Alternative name: Back-to-neck hand-slide
Start in [open position]. Do a sugar push, but on 3&4 begin lowering your body and pointing your body at 3 o’clock. Duck and slide under the right arm from a hammerlock position. On 5&6 you may skip the triple. By 6 you should be perpendicular to the follower, looking at 9 o’clock. You should end in [handshake] position.
Mirrored inside pivot turn #
Note that there are no triple steps in this pattern.
Start in an [open] position. On 1 and 2 step backwards towards 6:00. On 3 turn 180 degrees such that you are facing 6:00 and the follower is facing 12:00. On 3 you will do this by bringing your left hand all the way towards 3:00 and immediately releasing your hand. You should be back-to-back and your shoulder blades could be touching each other but they do not necessarily have to. On 3 and 4 your weight should be on your left leg as you are leaning towards the left. On 5 and 6 you should lean towards the right and change your weight into your right leg. On 7 you should turn clockwise by stepping on your left leg so your body points at 10 o’clock. On 8 turn slightly clockwise by stepping on your right leg while offering your left hand such that you end in an [open] position.
Variations:
On 3 instead of releasing your left hand you may choose to keep it connected and continue the rest of the pattern while holding hands. This easier to follow.
This pattern can be done from a [parallel] position while holding both hands throughout the entire rotation.