# Handhold (dance)

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A '''handhold''' is a manner in which the [dancer](/source/dancer)s hold each other's [hand](/source/hand)s during the [dance](/source/dance). 
A '''hold''' is the way one partner holds another one with hands.
Hold and handhold are important components of [connection](/source/connection_(dance)) 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](/source/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](/source/circle_dance), 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 dance](/source/couple_dance)s (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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Handhold (dance)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handhold_(dance)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handhold_(dance)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.