Clockwise and Counter-clockwise

Often it is easiest to describe the direction of a turn as clockwise or counter-clockwise. This can throw off a beginner dancer.

The easiest way to "logic out" what this means, is to imagine a clock face, then imagine laying that clock face on the floor.

When you do a right hand turn, you walk in the direction that the minute hand sweeps around the clock face. Therefore, a right hand turn is clockwise. The normal direction for a two hand turn is the same: clockwise.

The dancers executing a left hand turn move in the opposite direction from the clock hands. So the direction for a left hand turn is counter-clockwise.

Once in a while you will come across a two hand turn that should move counter-clockwise. In those rare cases, the dance manual will specify, or the dance teacher will have a really logical reason that a counter-clockwise turn is preferred. It is enough for beginners to remember that the typical direction for a two hand turn is the same as for a right hand turn.