Open hold

The arms of the closed hold, with both partners turned to face the way they travel.

Also called foxtrot hold, foxtrot position or open position. Other names.

Not checked yet. The mechanics on this page are a first draft by a non-expert, and no coach has seen them yet. Read them as a starting point and check them with a coach. Corrections are very welcome.

The hands and arms are where they are in the closed hold: the lead’s right hand on the follow’s back, the follow’s left hand on the lead’s shoulder, the other two hands joined. The partners turn a little away from each other, so both face the same way and both skate forwards, side by side, with the joined hands ahead of them.

U.S. Figure Skating’s rulebook also calls it the foxtrot hold, and gives a crossed version: the lead’s right arm passes behind the follow to the follow’s right hip, and the follow’s left arm passes behind the lead to the lead’s left hip.

The Foxtrot, the Rocker Foxtrot and the Argentine Tango all begin in it, and the Foxtrot and the Rocker Foxtrot come back to it after a stretch in the closed hold.

Appears in