The Huggy Bug is a 1960s variation of the fox trot which is danced in a hugging hold.
It was described in Marie Cartmell's Dances for Mods and Rockers in 1964.
The Huggy Bug Hold: Hug your partner, with both of the Lead's hands around the Follow's waist, and both of the Follow's hands behind the Lead's neck. The heads look over the respective right shoulders "or better still, dance cheek to cheek."
Basic Step: The Lead sways forward L, collecting R toward L (1), sways back R, collecting L toward R (3), steps forward L (5), and closes R to L with weight (6). The Follow sways back R, forward L, steps back R, and closes L to R.
Left Turn: Turn the swaying steps of the Basic Step to the left.
Right Turn: In the Basic Step, replace "forward" with "back" and vice versa, and turn it to the right.
Sway Step: Sway to the L (1), sway to the R (3), step side L (5), and close R to L (6). The Follow sways to the right, left, and side-closes to the right.
Progressive Walk: Back the Follow up three steps (1, 3, 5), and close with weight (6).
Side Chase: Step side to the L (1), close R to L with weight (2), and repeat twice more (3, 4, 5, 6). The Follow side-closes three times to the right.
No particular song is specified for the Huggy Bug, but "Wishin' and Hopin'" (1964) by Dusty Springfield is thematically appropriate.
© 2020 Nick Enge
For more dance descriptions, see our three books on dancing:
The Book of Mixers: 100 Easy-Teach Dances for Getting Acquainted (2022) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge,
Cross-Step Waltz: A Dancer's Guide (2019) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge, and
Waltzing: A Manual for Dancing and Living (2013) by Richard Powers and Nick Enge.
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