| The "Washing Machine" described below is a simplified | | | | male dancer now uses this "pretzel" lead to move his |
| version of the signature dance move of professional | | | | partner into the "Washing Machine" that is described |
| dancers Matt and Crystal Auclair. Over the years, Matt | | | | below. |
| and his wife have incorporated this rotational, East | | | | "WASHING MACHINE" FLIP AND TURN |
| Coast Swing move into many of the dance routines | | | | ROTATIONS: On the next 1 and 2 count, the male |
| that they perform for competitions and demonstrations | | | | dancer while holding his partner with a left over right |
| around the country. The male dancer begins the | | | | hand "pretzel" lead, raises his right arm vertically into |
| "Washing Machine" in the open position while he holds | | | | the "up-yours" position, and then he rotates |
| his partner with a two-hand lead. On the 1 and 2 count, | | | | counterclockwise a half-turn under his partner's left |
| he rotates her counterclockwise two turns into an | | | | forearm; i.e., through the "up-yours" window, so that his |
| "Illusion Sweetheart Wrap." On the 3 and 4 count, he | | | | back is now to her and his arms are crossed in front |
| unwraps her into the hand positioning of a left over | | | | of him. In this stance, his right hand is at his left shoulder |
| right hand "pretzel" lead. On the next 1 and 2 count, he | | | | holding his partner's left hand; his left hand is at his right |
| uses the "pretzel" lead that he just established with his | | | | shoulder holding her right hand; and, his left forearm |
| partner to rotate her smoothly into the "Washing | | | | crosses his chest diagonally inside his right forearm. |
| Machine." | | | | On the 3 and 4 count, the male dancer raises his left |
| The male dancer may also use other open position | | | | hand from his right shoulder; he brings his partner's right |
| moves besides the two-turn "Illusion Sweetheart | | | | forearm over his head and then he lowers his left |
| Wrap" to build his "pretzel" lead. For example, he may | | | | hand in front of his left shoulder. In other words, the |
| use his initial two-hand lead to move her into (and out | | | | male dancer "flips" his left hand UP; he arcs it over |
| of) a traditional, one-turn "Sweetheart Wrap;" he may | | | | towards his left shoulder in a windshield wiper like |
| lead her into a "Two-Hand Tuck and Turn," or he may | | | | sweep, and then he "flips" it DOWN in front of his left |
| simply rotate her around clockwise a half-turn in front | | | | shoulder. In this stance, he holds both of his partner's |
| of him; however, because these alternative entries into | | | | hands positioned by his left shoulder. |
| the "pretzel" lead incorporate less movement, they are | | | | On the next 1 and 2 count, the male dancer executes |
| visually less interesting. | | | | a counterclockwise half-turn to face towards his |
| SETTING UP THE "PRETZEL" LEAD: To lead his | | | | partner again. On the 3 and 4 count, he raises (or |
| partner into an "Illusion Sweetheart Wrap," the male | | | | "flips") his right hand (UP) from his left shoulder while he |
| dancer begins in the open position using a two-hand | | | | simultaneously levers his right wrist against his partner's |
| lead. On the 5 - 6 count, he leads her into her | | | | right wrist which rotates her clockwise one turn. While |
| breakstep by moving her forward on the "6" count as | | | | she steps around to face him, her right forearm |
| he lifts his left hand and rotates her right hand around | | | | followed immediately by her left forearm pass over |
| in front of himself to his right. On the 1 and 2 count, | | | | her head as the male dancer lowers (or "flips") his |
| while he steps in-place, the male dancer continues | | | | hands from above her head (DOWN) in front of his |
| rotating his raised left arm over his partner's head as | | | | right shoulder. At the end of every repetition, the |
| he leads her counterclockwise, one-and-a-half turns | | | | dancers always end up facing each other with the |
| into a "Sweetheart Wrap." After his partner rotates a | | | | male dancer holding his partner with his modified |
| half-turn, he drops her left hand, he lets his right hand | | | | "pretzel" lead; i.e., in the "up yours" hand positioning. He |
| "trace her waist" as she continues her turn, and then | | | | generally executes at least two repetitions of this |
| he picks her left hand up again as she comes around | | | | move either by rotating in-place, or by continuously |
| for the second time into his right arm. The male dancer | | | | stepping counterclockwise around his partner who |
| creates the illusion of continuous hand contact with his | | | | becomes his in-place base for the move. |
| partner by the dropping her left hand and then picking it | | | | THE EXIT: Now that the male dancer stands in the "up |
| up again! | | | | yours" position again with his right arm raised, notice |
| On the 3 and 4 count, he raises both of his hands | | | | that all he has to do to return to his left over right hand |
| above her head and then he unwraps her back into | | | | "pretzel" lead is to lower his right arm! Once he |
| the open position by rotating her clockwise a half-turn | | | | accomplishes this hand repositioning, he may simply |
| to face him again which changes his hand positioning | | | | rotate his partner counterclockwise a one turn to |
| into a resultant left over right hand, "pretzel" lead. The | | | | return to his initial two-hand lead in the open position. |
