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<ref name=evglos>{{Cite web |url=http://www.evansvillefolkdancers.com/glossary.html |title=Glossary |access-date=2008-03-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071225171145/http://www.evansvillefolkdancers.com/glossary.html |archive-date=2007-12-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref> *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 <ref name=evglos/> **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<ref name=evglos/> **Back basket hold: Arms are extended sideways behind the neighbors to connect with the arms of the second next person<ref name=evglos/> *Belt hold: Each dancer holds the belts of the neighbors<ref name=evglos/> *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<ref name=evglos/>
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Dance technique