Sweetheart
Intermediate Level
Going deeper — techniques and nuances for experienced dancers
A side-by-side hold with crossed arms in front — like walking hand-in-hand, but with structure and intention.
Intermediate focus
Use the sweetheart as a launchpad. From here, you can unwind into open position, transition to a cuddle, or send the follower into a turn that exits into something completely different. Practice sweetheart walks with directional changes — forward, backward, lateral. Add a synchronized body wave in this position: it requires both partners to match timing precisely because the crossed arms amplify any mismatch.
Tips
- •Think of the arm cross like holding two jump ropes loosely — tension without grip, connection without control.
- •Leader: glance at your hand positions during practice. Your right hand should hold her right, your left holds her left. Burn this into muscle memory.
- •Use a mirror to check alignment. You should look like you're about to take a stroll together, not like you're doing a trust exercise.
Common mistakes
- •Crossing the arms at chest height instead of waist height — this restricts movement and feels claustrophobic
- •Gripping the hands tightly because the crossed position feels unstable — relax the fingers
- •Leader walking too far ahead of the follower instead of staying side by side
- •Forgetting which hand holds which during the entry, creating a tangled mess
Practice drill
Practice the entry from open position into sweetheart 15 times, then add an exit back to open position. Once that's clean, chain: open → sweetheart → cuddle → open. This triangle teaches you three fundamental transitions that recur in every combination you'll ever learn.