sweetheart-dance-position with Shawn Trautman Instruction

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Sweetheart Dance Position

by: Shawn Trautman

The sweetheart dance position is usually a means to an end. We doubt that you will ever execute an entire dance in sweetheart dance position, but if you advance in your dancing, particularly in two-step and swing, you will definitely utilize the sweetheart position.

Connection Points Used

The sweetheart dance position uses a variation of connection point 1.

Foot Positions Used

The sweetheart dance position uses all foot positions.

How to Create and Use the Sweetheart Dance Position

The sweetheart dance position is a side-by-side position in which the leader is typically on the left side and the follower is on the right, with both parties facing the same direction. To build the sweetheart position, both the leader and the follower must stand facing the same direction in first foot position. The follower should be slightly in front of the leader and off to his right. Her left shoulder should be in front of his right shoulder.

Followers, hold both of your hands up at shoulder level with the palms facing forward (in a “stick ’em up” position). You will be creating tension through pressing forward and out with both of your hands, so no spaghetti or collapsing arms are permitted in this position. Leaders, you will now take each of her hands in yours, right hand to right hand and left hand to left hand. Your fingers, held flat (not clenched), are pulling in toward you against her palms, and your thumbs are resting gently against the backs of her hands. This is so they aren’t sticking up in an unsightly fashion.

As mentioned before, you are creating your dance frame through the connection in your hands—gentlemen, you should be pulling her in toward you, and you should feel her gently resisting. This tension will allow you to steer the two of you on the dance floor and allow her to sense your leads as you are not facing each other in this dance position. You will use this position frequently in the two-step, waltz, and other progressive dances. It is also nice to incorporate into slow dances when there are photographs involved.