PICKUP

Officially a part of Waltz and Two-Step, the Pickup is widely used to move the woman in just one step from semi-closed position to closed position facing line of dance. The man takes a small step forward with his right foot, and the woman steps forward on her left and turns left face 1/2. In a way, the Pickup is not a dance figure itself but one step in a series of step cues. For instance, you might "walk, pickup," and then dance a Forward Waltz to a Maneuver. Or you might dance a Vine 3, pickup, side, close. In many dances, the Pickup is incorporated into a full-measure, 3- or 4-step figure. For instance, the Slow Side Lock is essentially a pickup, side, lock. We begin in semi-closed position facing line of dance. We step thru with the trail feet, the man leading the woman to begin a left-face turn. Step side and forward on the left foot to closed position facing line. On the third beat, cross right in back of left (woman LIFR) turning slightly to the left. A Rising Lock begins in closed position facing reverse line of dance. The man steps back on his right foot (woman forward on her left) beginning to turn to the left, then side and forward on his left turning, and finally crosses right in back of left (woman LIF of R) to end in closed position facing line and center. Finally, the Promenade Lock begins in semi-closed position facing line of dance. We step thru with the trail feet. The man leads the woman to begin a left-face turn. He steps side and forward left to closed position facing line but leaving the woman's head still open. He crosses right in back of left (woman LIF of R) turning slightly LF. On beat 3, he steps forward left (woman back right) toward line of dance. Notice that there are a total of four steps in this figure with a count of 12&3. The Promenade Lock is a nice way to "pickup" and get the trail feet free, perhaps for a Right Lunge.
Photo © A. Gorczycki; from Dancesport UK photo gallery.