Three Step

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Music: Behind Closed Doors by
Charlie Rich or any song with a similar slow 2/4 or 4/4 rhythm |
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Choreographer:
Unknown |
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Written for and posted to the
Internet by Ronald Lee Still on July 26, 1997. |
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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:
- Out to the left
- As high as their eyes
- At a distance midpoint between his left shoulder and her right
shoulder
- 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:
- Out to the left
- Between the shoulders and eyes in height
- At a distance midpoint between his left shoulder and her right
shoulder
- 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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