A Tandem unit consists of one dancer immediately behind another.
Both dancers must be facing the same direction. The two dancers work together
as if they were a single dancer to do the given call. Tandem is similar
to As Couples [A1], but instead of being side-by-side, the dancers are
front-to-back.
| Tandem dancers |
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Dancing hints:
- When the caller says Tandem, move vertically closer to the other
dancer in your Tandem unit. If you find that you have to move a long
way in order to get close, then your squares are probably too far apart
and you should try to dance in tighter formations.
- Typically, the trailing dancer places a hand on the back or
shoulder of the lead dancer. This helps keep the unit connected
together. The Japanese style is for the lead
dancer to place their arms comfortably at their side and slightly
behind them, extending their hands palms up and toward the trailing
dancer behind while the trailing dancer places their hands in the
leading dancer's palms. In either case, the idea is to physically
connect the dancers so that they stay together as a unit. At a
minimum, the Trailer should tap the Leader's shoulder to let the
Leader know that the Tandem unit is ready.
- When doing Arm Turns with another Tandem Unit, the Leader of each
Tandem unit can join hands with the Trailer of the other
unit. Tandem Arm Turns feel like Box Counter Rotates.
- As with an As Couples unit, no dancers should ever come between
the dancers within a Tandem unit.
Tandem of 3 (or 4):
A one-faced Column of 3 (or 4) dancers work as a unit.
As Couples CONCEPT [A1]:
Dancers side-by-side and facing the same direction (i.e., a Couple)
work as a single dancer to do the given call.
See also Siamese CONCEPT [C1].