Hi Joe,
Will try to describe the routine for you.
First Move BackslideStep back for first move entry.
Come in as normal.
Turn lady out as normal.
Bring the lady up in front, BUT instead of taking the left hand high, keep it at hip height and bring it in between you (that's the signal for this move).
Men: using the right hand (currently on the lady's left hip), spin the lady clockwise, keeping your hand in contact with the lady's hip.
When the lady is positioned so that she's turned the opposite direction to you, lock the lady's hip using the same hand. (at this point, the grip for the men is quite akward, but do-able).
The man now slides the lady past behind him (cheek to cheek!), stepping to the right as the lady slides to his left.
As the lady slides past, run the left hand up to the lady's upper arm, block and backspin.
Catch man's left to lady's right.
Double-lasso entry to Basket pull-through (man's lunge variation)Bring the lady in for a travelling return (spin 1).
Accelerate the lady into a second lasso spin, the man turns 180 degrees, and as the lady spins, let the lady's spare arm slide into the man's right hand. (at this point the lady is mid-spin, man's left hand high, man's right has caught lady's left around her waist).
Using the unusual catch, cushion the lady into the arm, and sway back.
Bring the lady up in front, and do a basket spin-out.
As the lady comes out of the spin, the man turns sharply to the right, turning his back to the lady, lunging forward on the right leg, left arm has come down behind him.
Reverse the lunge, pulling the lady through underneath the left arm, so that both partners effectively change places backwards.
Left-handed hatchback (catch behind)Starting mans left to lady's right, pull the lady in, taking her arm out straight to the left. Man places his hand on the lady's forearm.
Without turning, push the lady away behind the man. The man offers his left arm behind for the lady to catch (with her right hand).
Tango LungeThe man pulls the lady through from behind, and as the lady does the first spin, steps back and to the left, so that as the lady comes out of the pullthrough the man and woman now face each other square on.
Keep the spin going, and during the second spin, the man steps forward and to the left so as the lady comes out of travelling spin #2 the man is alongside her left hand side, ready for the fun (at this point, there is no gap between man and woman, though they are in hip to hip, facing opposite directions. The man's right hand is on the lady's back, placed there and naturally brought in to the correct place for a dip by the rotation of the lady's spin).
The man keeps the left hand high (used for control in the next bit) and lunges straight forwards and down on his left leg, taking the lady with him. (Note that the timing is spin1, spin2, down)
Reverse the lunge again, turn the lady out.
Pull up in front.
Push away, catching the upper arm.
Backspin the lady.
Step back ready for the start of the routine again.
In relation to your questions...
again your first move was the trickiest and involved quite a bit of maneovering if the lady was a little uncertain of which way to be pushed!
Yes, not an easy one that. The man's lead has a lot to do with it - just shoving the lady across behind will probably lead to the lady assuming a spin is required. Keeping a good hook-grip on the lady's hip with the right hand, and with the right arm tight across the lady's back, the man can lead the lady without giving her the option to spin.
The other option is that instead of pushing the lady across, you can anchor the lady in place while taking a bigger slide across. While sliding, the lady can't spin because of the hook grip on her hip, and coming out of the move, she's blocked by your other arm on her upper arm, ready for the next part.
The lunge was particularly good but question: would it matter if the lady did not realise a lunge was coming? Is the idea to secure her in place safely first and then simply do it?
The lunge can be done several ways. As ever, if the man is not secure on his feet, it is far more preferable to take an extra beat, steady up, and then lunge forward or forward/down.
If you want to lead the lunge down, you can keep pressure on the back with the right hand, and push further with the left, naturally tilting the lady slightly.
Alternatively, you could just push forward, keeping the left hand high, which should provide enough control so that the lady can't go down.
If you do use the extra beat to steady up, you could always whisper the next move to the lady so she knows what's about to occur as well!
I thought the double loop (lassoo) entry to sway fine - but is this really a basket or is it de facto a sway since it is not signalled (maybe its an open sway type of move so needs no signal?)
It's a lasso entry into a sway, with a basket spinout exit.
There is no signal for this - the lead should be more than sufficient for any movement within this segment of the routine.
If you do it right, the lady won't even be able to focus on you so signals are a bit wasted anyway... (kidding!)
Hope that answers your questiions.
Regards
John.
