Bridges Down

{1961}



Introduction

Bridges Down is a sequence dance described by Lois Lunt in her 1961 book Mix 'Em and Match 'Em.

The easy mixer described below has been adapted by Nick Enge from the longer original.



The Position

Facing LOD, holding inside hands.


The Dance

Part I - Walk and Inside Rollaway (4 bars): Starting outside feet, walk four steps forward along LOD (1, 2, 3, 4), planting the fourth step and turning to face partner, then spin inward toward partner 1.5 rotations with a paddle turn, i.e., keep the planted foot in place and paddle around with the free foot (5, 6, 7, 8).

Part II - Walk and Outside Rollaway (4 bars): Facing against LOD, and starting inside feet, repeat Part I, noting that the rollaway will now turn away from your partner (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8).

Part III - Slide and Change (4 bars): Taking two hands, slide four steps along LOD, slide-and-slide-and-slide-and-slide (1-and-2-and-3-and-4). Then the Follow continues sliding four more steps to meet a new partner ahead of her (5-and-6-and-7-and-8), as the Lead does an easy-going rollaway to the left with four walking steps to meet new partner behind him (5, 6, 7, 8).

Part IV - Slide and Turn (4 bars): Taking two hands with new partner, slide four steps along LOD, slide-and-slide-and-slide-and-slide (1-and-2-and-3-and-4). Then turn 3/4 clockwise around each other with a quick walking swing to face LOD to begin again (5, 6, 7, 8).

Repeat from the beginning.


The Music

The recommended music is "London Bridge Is Falling Down."


Sources


© 2019 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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