Cross Wrap
Beginner Level
The foundation — what every new dancer needs to know
A figure where the arms cross over the follower's body creating a wrapped hold — the elegant cousin of the cuddle.
Beginner focus
From open hold, leader: guide the follower into a right turn while keeping hold of both hands. As she turns, let your right arm cross over your left, creating the wrapped position. Check: her arms should be crossed in front of her body, not behind her back. Keep the basic step going. To exit, simply reverse the turn and unwind.
Tips
- •Leader: before you wrap, know your exit. Every wrap entry should have a planned unwrap. If you don't know how to get out, don't go in.
- •Keep the arms at a comfortable height — belly button to chest level. Higher or lower creates strain.
- •Practice alone first: cross your own arms in front of you and trace the path each hand needs to take. Then add a partner.
Common mistakes
- •Crossing too tightly, pinning the follower's arms to her body and restricting breathing
- •Losing track of which hand holds which, leading to painful tangles
- •Follower helping by self-wrapping instead of letting the leader guide the arm path
- •Forgetting to maintain the basic step during the wrap transition
Practice drill
Practice the sequence: open → cross-wrap → hold 4 counts → unwind to open, 20 times in a row. Once clean, change the exercise: open → cross-wrap → exit to cuddle → exit to sweetheart → exit to open. This chain teaches you that the cross-wrap connects to everything.