Handhold (dance)

A handhold is a manner in which the dancers hold each other's hands during the dance. A hold is the way one partner holds another one with hands. Hold and handhold are important components of connection in dance.

Couple dances

• Waist-hand hold
• Shoulder-waist hold
• Shoulder blade hold
• Ballroom hold
• Banjo hold
• Barn dance hold
• Butterfly hold: in face-to-face dance position, the arms are extended sideways palm to palm, elbows slightly bent
• Shoulder hold (varsouvienne hold)
• Cross-back hold
• Promenade hold
• Short-arm hold
• Skaters hold
  • Back skaters hold: partners side-by-side, same hands joined, man right arm around lady's waist with right hands on the lady's right hip, left hands joined in front, man's hand palm up
  • Front skaters hold
• V hold
• Hammerlock hold
• Sweetheart hold
• Cuddle hold

Line/circle dances

When danced in line or circle formation, the handholds usually connect a dancer with the two immediate neighbors, sometimes with the two second next neighbors. Exceptions are free hands of the first and last persons in the line formation.

A number of these holds may be used in couple dances (a couple is a line of just two).

• Shoulder hold
• Chain hold
• Basket hold
  • Front basket hold: Arms are extended sideways in front of the neighbors to connect with the arms of the second next person
  • Back basket hold: Arms are extended sideways behind the neighbors to connect with the arms of the second next person
• Belt hold: Each dancer holds the belts of the neighbors
• Escort hold: one arm slightly rounded with arm at waist level, the neighbor from this side place the opposite hand on the forearm through the space formed by founded arm