Flair Lesson #23: Swipe Thru
This move is a great fundamental move that you will use a ton. As we progress and learn a lot more 1 bottle and 1 tin moves and start putting together routines, you’ll find that the Swipe Thru is a cornerstone of those routines – a move that we use frequently to transition throughout the routine. So practice this and get good at it with both hands.
1) I like to start with the bottle in the right hand and the tin in the left. However, when we are learning 2 item moves we will often start by learning separately one hand at a time. So set the tin down and let’s start with the bottle.
2) Grab the bottle with your right hand around the body (not the neck or shoulders of the bottle.) The bottle should be pointing up or very slightly away from you. As we learn this move people have a tendency to tilt the bottle forward. Eventually, you will want to practice this with a half-full bottle to make sure you are keeping it pointed up and not spilling.
3) Move the bottle back and forth across your body. That’s it. Pretty simple. But do it 20 times anyway just so your muscle memory gets use to it. You should be hinging at the elbow.
4) Set down the bottle and pick up the tin. Grip it about halfway up the tin. The goal is to be able to roll the tin off your fingers and throw it in a complete circle. Build a little momentum by bringing your hand across your body, palm up, and as you let the tin roll off your fingers pull your fingers back towards your palm. This should propel the tin – spinning – up in the air.
5) Make sure you are not just throwing the tin straight up and down. Practice making a full circle in the air with it, catching it back where you started by your left side. Once you can comfortable toss the tin in a circle, use your right hand without the bottle in it to mimic the motion of swiping through the circle the tin makes. Repeat this 10 times.
6) Now pick up the bottle in your right hand and the tin in your left. Give the Swipe Thru a shot. Try it 10 more times. If you are struggling a bit, set one of the items down and practice each hand’s movement separately again.
7) Once you start to feel comfortable with the swipe through, change hands and start with the bottle in your left, the tin in your right. If necessary, go back up to step #2 and repeat the steps.
8) Your feet aren’t glued to the floor! Once you’re comfortable with the move, try stepping back and forth as you throw. Watching someone do amazing flair moves like a robot – technically perfect but with no style – is not nearly as exciting as watching someone flair less impressive moves but with style. Start to make the dance your own. Put some sex into it.
The Discussion...
