Back to Back
Intermediate Level
Going deeper — techniques and nuances for experienced dancers
Both partners stand back-to-back with shoulder blade contact — a moment of separation that deepens trust.
Intermediate focus
Now use back-to-back as a transition point. Enter from a turn, hold for a musical phrase, exit into a different figure entirely. Practice back-to-back body waves where the wave passes through the point of back contact — one partner initiates, the other receives and responds. Add head turns for styling: looking over the shoulder toward your partner creates a beautiful line.
Tips
- •Think of your shoulder blades as a second pair of hands — they should be listening to your partner's movement just as sensitively.
- •Leader: keep gentle tension in at least one hand connection. This is your steering wheel for the exit.
- •Breathe together. In back-to-back position, you can literally feel each other's breathing. Sync it and watch the magic happen.
Common mistakes
- •Losing all physical contact in back-to-back, turning it into two solo dancers standing near each other
- •Leaning heavily into the partner's back instead of maintaining your own balance
- •Rushing through the position instead of letting it breathe musically
- •Dropping the hand connection, which makes the exit chaotic
Practice drill
Dance an entire chorus in back-to-back position, maintaining basic step and hand connection throughout. Practice leading directional changes (forward, backward, lateral) using only the back contact and hand tension. When you can navigate all four directions without looking, you've graduated.