Kinesthetic learning is learning by doing. Learning to read scripts, especially the meaning of the various holds and their abbreviations is reinforced by kinesthetic learning techniques. To this end, it is advisable to get together with your dance partner while reading this tutorial and to implement each hold below by doing it. 

CH.

THE CLOSED HOLD:

• The script abbreviation:
  • The script abbreviation for the closed hold position is CH.
• The man  stands facing the lady. 
  
  • The Lady is positioned slightly to right of the center of  the man  and just touching him.
    
• The man's left arm:
  •  The man's left arm should be raised so the left elbow is slightly lower than the shoulder.
  • The elbow should be bent sharply so the left forearm slopes upwards and slightly forward from elbow to hand. 
  • The wrist of the left hand should not be bent either backwards or forwards. 
  • The palm of the left hand as well as the forearm should now be diagonal to the floor.
  • The elbow should be slightly back so as to be in line with the man's back.
  • The lady places the fingers of her right hand between the thumb and first finger of the man's left hand.
  • The man's fingers then close loosely over the side of the lady's right hand.
    
    
• The man's right arm:
  •  The man's right arm should slope downwards from shoulder to elbow so as to be as near as possible in the same line as the left arm.
  • The right elbow will be more forward than the right shoulder because of the right hand reaching around to the lady's back.
  • The right hand is placed below the lady's left shoulder blade - but not so far around the lady's back that the right shoulder starts to sag. 
  • The lady's left arm is placed comfortably on the man's right arm with her left hand resting lightly on the man's right arm just below the shoulder.
• 
  The man's head:
  • The man's head should be held in a comfortable upright position.
  • The man should normally be looking over the lady's right shoulder.
• The key points regarding the lady's hold:
  • The lady should stand upright, slightly braced at the waist, without the shoulders being raised.
  • The lady should stand as near as possible in front of the man.
• The lady's left arm:
  • The lady's left arm rests lightly on the man's right arm with no weight bearing downwards.
  • The fingers of the left hand should be together and positioned on the man's right arm between the elbow and the shoulder, just slightly higher than the half way position between the two.
• The lady's right arm:
  • The lady's right arm slopes downwards from the shoulder to the elbow, then upwards to the man's left hand.
• Foot movements relative to the partner:
  • When the man steps forward with the left foot, the lady steps back her right foot.
    
  • When the man steps backwards with his right foot, the lady steps forward with her left foot.
    
  • In this hold, the man and the lady will use opposite feet to each other.

SH

THE SHADOW HOLD:

• The script abbreviation:
  • The script abbreviation for the shadow hold position is SH.

• The man  and the lady stands facing in the same direction. 

   

• The Lady:
  
  • The Lady is positioned in front of man and  just to the right of the his center.
  • The lady's left shoulder blade should be in light contact with man's right breast.
  • The lady raises both arms so the elbows are slightly lower than her shoulders.
  • The lady's elbows are sharply bent to allow the forearms to slope upwards and slightly forward from elbows to hands, with palms facing her front.

• 
  The Man:
  • The man raises his arms and takes hold of lady's hands with his palms in loose contact with the back of her hands.
  • 
    The man places his thumb on the back of the lady's hand and the four fingers in the palm of each hand.
  • The lady's fingers will be  lightly closed over top of the man's fingers..

• Foot movements relative to the partner:
  • The man and lady  will use the same foot and move in the same direction.

SSH

SEMI-SHADOW HOLD:

• Position:
  •  This position is exactly the same as SHADOW HOLD, with the difference being that the man will place his right hand on the lady's right hip with the lady placing her right hand on top of man's right hand. 
    
  • The lady must extend the right elbow outwards away from the body. 
  • As a more artistic expression of the dance,  the lady may leave the right hand extended to the side just below shoulder height. This free right arm may be used creatively in co-ordination with the music. 
    
• Foot movements relative to the partner: 
  • Man and lady use the same foot movements and travel in the same direction.
    
    
    

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DH

DOUBLE HOLD:

• Position:
  • The man and lady will face each other with man holding lady's right hand in his left hand and her left hand in his right hand. 
  • Both hands should be slightly above shoulder height. 
• Foot movements relative to the partner: 
  • The man and lady use opposite feet in the double hold position..
    
    
    
    

OEH

OPEN EXTENDED HOLD:

• Position:
  • The man and the lady stand side by side facing the same direction with the lady on the man's right side. 
  • The man holds the lady's left hand in his right hand at shoulder height with the free arms extended to the side just below  shoulder height. 
  • Both the lady and the man's fmay be used creatively in co-ordination with the music to good artistic effect.
    
• Foot movements relative to the partner: 
  • The man and lady use opposite feet even though they are  traveling  in the same direction.
    
    
    
    

  ---

  
  

PP

Promenade Position:

• The Promenade Position:
  •  This is the position wherein the man's right side and the lady's left side are kept in close contact.
  • The opposite sides of the body are turned out forming a 'wedge' or a 'V' shaped configuration. 
    
• Fallaway Position:
  • Fallaway Position is a variation of  promenade position (PP) wherein the the lady and the man move backwards in promenade position.
    
    
    
    

Some Variations in the above Holds:

Some of the above holds may be danced in various ways e.g:

DHRSS

•  Double Hold in right side by side position. 
  • The man's right side is adjacent to the lady's right side
  • The lady is traveling in the opposite direction to the man. For example, if the man is traveling forwards then the lady is stepping backwards and vice versa.
  • Both partners use different feet. For example, if the man is stepping forward with his left foot then the lady is stepping back on her right foot.

DHLSS

• Double Hold in left side by side position. 
  • The man's left  side is adjacent to the lady's left side
  • As with the DHRSS position, the lady is traveling in the opposite direction to the man. For example, if the man is traveling forwards then the lady is stepping backwards and vice versa.
  • As with the DHRSS position, both partners use different feet. For example, if the man is stepping forward with his left foot then the lady is stepping back on her right foot.
    
    

OEHLLS

• Open extended hold with lady on left side .
  • This position is the same as the Open Extended Hold position with the difference being that the lady and the man have swapped sides. Nothing else changes.
    
    
    

OEHPP

• Open Extended Hold in promenade position. 
  • This hold is the same as the Open Extended Hold with the difference being in the wedge or 'V' shape formed by both partners facing diagonally inwards towards each other.
    

     

• Foot movements relative to the partner: 
  • However, unless otherwise stated, Man and Lady will use 'feet' as described in italicized notes above

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