Handhold (dance)

A handhold is a manner in which the dancers hold each other's hands during the dance. A hold is the way one partner holds another one with hands. Hold and handhold are important components of connection 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, the arms are extended sideways palm to palm, elbows slightly bent
 * 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
 * Front skaters hold
 * V hold
 * Hammerlock hold
 * Sweetheart hold
 * Cuddle hold

Line/circle dances
When danced in line or circle formation, 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 dances (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
 * Back basket hold: Arms are extended sideways behind the neighbors to connect with the arms of the second next person
 * Belt hold: Each dancer holds the belts of the neighbors
 * 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