Three Step

Music: Behind Closed Doors by Charlie Rich or any song with a similar slow 2/4 or 4/4 rhythm
Choreographer: Unknown
Written for and posted to the Internet by Ronald Lee Still on July 26, 1997.
Description: Couple's specialty dance, which progresses CCW around the dance floor. For both dancers: On Count 4, the toe points are forward with the line of dance and on the Count 6, the toe points are backwards to the line of dance. Turns begin on Count 1 (permitting four counts to complete a movement), but the prompt may begin as early as Count 5 in the set immediately before. This is a gentleman's lead and lady's follow style dance. These are the basic components. Learn them and then mix and match to your heart's content.

Copyright © 1998 by Ronald L. Still. Merida Business Group, 1413 Kenbrook Drive, Garner, NC 27529-4447; 919-772-2082. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America.

Position

Gentleman
Fred Astaire Country
Face your partner directly, then move one-two inches to the left
Heels together
Arms raised and elbows away from the body
Gentleman places his right hand in the small of the lady's back
Gentleman places his left hand:
  1. Out to the left
  2. As high as their eyes
  3. At a distance midpoint between his left shoulder and her right shoulder
  4. Palm up
Face your partner directly, stay in place and let the gentleman move 1-2 inches to his left
Heels together
Arms raised and elbows away from the body
Gentleman places his right hand on the lady's left shoulder blade
Gentleman places his left hand:
  1. Out to the left
  2. Between the shoulders and eyes in height
  3. At a distance midpoint between his left shoulder and her right shoulder
  4. Palm up
Lady
Fred Astaire Country
Lady places her left hand on the outside edge of the gentleman's right shoulder and rests her elbow over his elbow
Lady places her right hand in the gentleman's left hand
Gentleman places his left thumb over the lady's hand
Body contact is expected
Lady places her left hand on the front and outside edge of the gentleman's upper arm and rests her elbow over his elbow
Lady places her right hand in the gentleman's left hand
Gentleman places his left thumb over the lady's hand
Body contact is not expected

Copyright © 1998 by Ronald L. Still. Merida Business Group, 1413 Kenbrook Drive, Garner, NC 27529-4447; 919-772-2082. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America.

Standard steps for gentleman and lady are generally reversed.

Basic Step

Gentleman - Faces Line of Dance (LOD) Lady - Faces Gentleman and Reverse LOD
1. Left foot step forward 1. Right foot step backward
2. Right foot step forward 2. Left foot step backward
3. Left foot step forward 3. Right foot step backward
4. Right toe touch forward (leg swings from the hip and is fully extended forward) and lock right hand so the lady cannot move backwards during the next two moves 4. Left toe touch backward (leg swings from the hip and is fully extended)
5. Right foot step backward and increase pressure with the right hand so the lady will step towards you 5. Left foot step forward
6. Left toe touch backward (leg swings from the hip and is fully extended) and relax pressure with your right hand so the lady is able to move backwards with the LOD 6. Right toe touch forward (leg swings from the hip and is fully extended forward)

Gentleman's Walk Around Turn

Gentleman - Faces Line of Dance (LOD) Lady - Faces Gentleman and Reverse LOD
&. Right hand locks in place on the lady's left shoulder blade so she cannot move backwards during the next three counts  
1. Left foot step diagonally forward and to the left of the lady, beginning the semicircle around the lady, and left hand maintains the frame and leads the lady in her turn in place 1. Right foot step in place, slightly turning CW, beginng the 1/2 turn CW
2. Right foot step diagonally forward and slightly to the right, continuing the semi circle around the lady 2. Left foot step in place, slightly CW, continuing the 1/2 turn CW
3. Left foot step diagonally forward and to the right, finishing the semicircle walk around the lady 3. Right foot step in place, slightly CW, finishing the 1/2 turn CW
&. Left foot pivot 1/2 turn CW
4. Right toe touch backward (leg swings from the hip and is fully extended forward) and right hand puts slight pressure on the lady's left shoulder blade so she knows you have completed the turn and she is to point forward on this count 4. Left toe touch forward (leg swings from the hip and is fully extended)
5. Right foot step forward and relax pressure with the right hand on the lady's left shoulder blade so she knows she is to move backward 5. Left foot step backward
6. Left toe touch forward (leg swings from the hip and is fully extended) 6. Right toe touch backward (leg swings from the hip and is fully extended forward)

Lady's Walk Around Turn

Gentleman - Faces Lady and Reverse LOD Lady - Faces Line of Dance (LOD)
&. Right hand locks in place on the lady's left shoulder blade so she cannot move backwards during the next three counts  
1. Left foot step behind the right leg to the right - the left toe will be to the right of the right heel and pointing 1/4 turn CW, beginning your efforts to get out of the lady's way, and left hand maintains the frame and leads the lady in her walk forward 1. Right foot step forward, slightly turning the upper body CCW as the gentleman steps out of your way
2. Right foot step to close to the left foot, and maintain the frame with the arms and hands leading the lady by 2. Left foot step forward, turning the foot slightly CCW, if necessary to maintain the frame with the gentleman
3. Left foot step slightly forward 1/4 turn CCW, realigning yourself with the lady and again facing forward with the LOD, and relax pressure with the right hand on the lady's left shoulder blade so she knows to point behind her and down the LOD 3. Right toe step forward, turning the foot slightly CCW, if necessary to maintain the frame with the gentleman
&. Right toe pivot, completing the 1/2 turn CCW
4. Right toe touch forward (leg swings from the hip and is fully extended forward) and right hand puts slight pressure on the lady's left shoulder blade so she knows you expect her to stop moving with the LOD and reverse for the next two counts 4. Left toe touch backward (leg swings from the hip and is fully extended)
5. Right foot step backward and increase pressure with the right hand on the lady's left shoulder blade so she knows she is to move backward to the LOD 5. Left foot step forward
6. Left toe touch backward (leg swings from the hip and is fully extended) and relax right hand so lady can again move forward with the LOD 6. Right toe touch forward (leg swings from the hip and is fully extended forward)

Lady's Basic Under Arm Full Turn CW

This move begins during Counts 5 and 6 of the previous step set. In this example, it is Count 5 and 6 of a Basic Step.

Gentleman - Faces Line of Dance (LOD) Lady - Faces Gentleman and Reverse LOD
5. Right foot step backward, increase pressure with the right hand so the lady will step towards you, and pull your left hand towards your left shoulder an inch or so (beginning of cue for turn) 5. Left foot step backward
6. Left toe touch backward (leg swings from the hip and is fully extended), relax pressure with your right hand so the lady is able to move backwards with the LOD, and return your left hand to its normal position 6. Right toe touch backward (leg swings from the hip and is fully extended forward)
&. Right hand locks in place on the lady's left shoulder blade so she cannot move backwards during the next three counts
1. Left foot step forward, left hand raises over center of lady's head, and right hand begins a slight push in a CCW direction to set her turning 1. Right foot step in place, turning 1/3 turn CW
2. Right foot step forward and right hand drops to side 2. Left foot step in place, turning 1/3 turn CW
3. Left foot step forward and right hand returns to lady's left shoulder blade as she finishes her turn 3. Right foot step in place, turning 1/3 turn CW
4. Right toe touch forward (leg swings from the hip and is fully extended forward) and lock right hand so the lady cannot move backwards during the next two moves 4. Left toe touch backward (leg swings from the hip and is fully extended)
5. Right foot step backward and increase pressure with the right hand on the lady's left shoulder blade so she knows she is to move backward to the LOD 5. Left foot step forward
6. Left toe touch backward (leg swings from the hip and is fully extended) and relax pressure with th right hand so the lady can move with the LOD 6. Right toe touch forward (leg swings from the hip and is fully extended forward)

Lady's Intermediate Under Arm 1/2 Turn CW

Gentleman - Faces Lady and Reverse LOD Lady - Faces Line of Dance (LOD)
&. Right hand locks in place on the lady's left shoulder blade so she cannot move backwards during the next three counts  
1. Left foot step behind the right leg to the right - the left toe will be to the right of the right heel and pointing 1/4 turn CW, beginning your efforts to get out of the lady's way, and left hand maintains the frame and leads the lady in her walk forward 1. Right foot step forward
2. Right foot step to close to the left foot, and maintain the frame with the arms and hands leading the lady by 2. Left foot step forward
3. Left foot step in place, but turned towards the lady, right hand push gently on her shoulder blade, and left hand raise over her head leading her in a 1/2 turn CW 3. Right toe step forward
&. Right toe pivot 1/2 turn CW
4. Right toe touch forward (leg swings from the hip and is fully extended forward) towards the lady and left arm extends towards the lady 4. Left toe touch backward (leg swings from the hip and is fully extended)
5. Right foot step backward and left arm extends towards the lady 5. Left foot step forward
6. Left toe touch backward (leg swings from the hip and is fully extended) and left arm is at full extension - do not lock the elbow 6. Right toe touch forward (leg swings from the hip and is fully extended forward)
1. Left foot step forward toward lady and LOD 1. Right foot step backward slightly
2. Right foot step forward toward lady and LOD 2. Left foot step backward slightly
3. Left foot step forward toward lady and LOD and return your right hand to lady's left shoulder blade 3. Right foot step backward slightly and return left hand to gentleman's upper right arm
4. Right toe touch forward (leg swings from the hip and is fully extended forward) and lock right hand so the lady cannot move backwards during the next two moves 4. Left toe touch backward (leg swings from the hip and is fully extended)
5. Right foot step backward and increase pressure with the right hand so the lady will step towards you 5. Left foot step forward
6. Left toe touch backward (leg swings from the hip and is fully extended) and relax pressure with your right hand so the lady is able to move backwards with the LOD 6. Right toe touch forward (leg swings from the hip and is fully extended forward)
 
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