Lasso
Beginner Level
The foundation — what every new dancer needs to know
A circular arm lead that traces an arc over the follower's head — like drawing a halo with your hand connection.
Beginner focus
From open hold, leader: lift your left hand (holding her right) in a smooth arc to your right, passing over her head in a clockwise circle. Keep the circle wide and slow — if the follower has to duck, your circle is too small or too low. The elbow should stay soft, not locked straight. Complete the circle and return to open hold. Follower: let the hand guide you, keeping your arm relaxed with just enough tone to stay connected.
Tips
- •Leader: imagine you're holding a pen and drawing a perfect circle on the ceiling. That's the quality of motion you want.
- •Keep the circle above the follower's crown by at least 6 inches. Give her room to exist inside the arc.
- •Follower: maintain gentle upward pressure during the overhead portion — this keeps the connection alive and prevents the hand from sliding apart.
Common mistakes
- •Making the circle too tight, forcing the follower to duck or scrunch her shoulders
- •Leading the lasso with stiff, locked arms instead of soft, flowing elbows
- •Losing hand grip during the overhead portion because of poor grip rotation
- •Spinning the hand too fast, creating a windmill effect rather than a controlled arc
Practice drill
Solo practice first: hold a water bottle in your hand and trace slow, perfect circles overhead. The water shouldn't slosh. Then with a partner: 10 lassos clockwise, 10 counterclockwise, focusing on maintaining a perfectly round path with consistent speed throughout.