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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.
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