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Round Dance Tips by Tim Eum—

Eggbeater Turn

Valentine, by Curt & Tammy Worlock, has been a popular phase 6 bolero since it was introduced in 2015. It is an innovative dance and one of its innovations is the Eggbeater Turn. The Eggbeater Turn is a two-measure figure that begins in BFLY (man facing wall in "Valentine") and with lead foot free.

If it were not for the arms, the Eggbeater Turn would not be difficult. If it were not for the trail arms, the Eggbeater Turn would start out as a simple Underarm Turn. Then, if it were not for the arms, the second measure of an Eggbeater Turn would be Lady RF Roll 2 to face wall, while the man simply does a Right Lunge. But the arms are used in the Eggbeater Turn, and coordinating them is what makes the figure difficult.

When you start the Eggbeater Turn, begin just like an Underarm Turn by stepping slow side to man's left/lady's right and raising the joined lead hands. But, in addition to that, also take the joined trail hands through between partners about shoulder height.

Continue the Eggbeater Turn with the lady turning right face under the joined lead hands (like a Basketball Turn) and the man rocking behind on his right foot and stepping forward on his left (just like in an Underarm Turn). Note that as the lady turns the arms begin to get all twisted up. The secret here is to NOT raise the trail hands high while the lead hands are still high -- keep the trail hands at shoulder level until after the lead hands have lowered. As soon as the lady begins turning on her second step, the lead hands will begin to lower, and just as you are taking the third step the lead hands will run into the man's upper right arm. Now the "magic" occurs -- quickly let go of the lead hands, lower them still further, and then rejoin them underneath the man's right upper arm. When I said "quick", I meant it, this release and rejoin under of the lead hands should happen in the instant it takes to move the hands from above the man's right upper arm to when the hands are below it.

Now, as the lady steps in with her left and "rolls" turning half right-face, raise the joined trail hands above the lady's head and allow the joined lead hands to wrap at waist level in front of the lady. Finally, with both right feet free, lunge right and lower the trail hands into wrapped position. Note that in this second measure of the Eggbeater that the lady takes two weight changes and the man takes only one.

The overall timing of the "Eggbeater" is SQQ; S--; for the man and SQQ; SS; for the lady. In Valentine, the couple begins in BFLY facing wall, lead foot free, and ends in Wrapped Position facing wall lowered in a right lunge both with left foot free.



Tim Eum has prepared many Round Dance Tips for Calls 'n' Cues, WASCA, for his weekly Rocket Rounds email reports, and for other publications. DRDC is grateful for permission to collect and reprint. A Tim Eum archive.

 

dingbat



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