How to Do the Lindy Circle
If the swingout is Lindy Hop's handshake, the Lindy circle is its hug: an eight-count move where the couple rotates together in closed position.
What it is
The Lindy circle is an eight-count move danced from closed position (the lead's right hand on the follow's back, the follow's left hand on the lead's shoulder). The couple turns together through roughly a full rotation, then finishes ready for the next move – often a swingout or a send-out to open.
The counts
| Count | Lead | Follow |
|---|---|---|
| 1, 2 | Rock step, keeping the follow close | Rock step, staying connected through the back |
| 3, 4 | Step, step – begin rotating clockwise as a pair | Step, step – travel around with the lead |
| 5 & 6 | Triple step, continuing the rotation | Triple step, continuing the rotation |
| 7 & 8 | Triple step, settling to finish | Triple step, settling to finish |
Make it swing
Both partners lean slightly away from each other through the hips – like two people holding hands and spinning in a playground. That shared counterbalance does the turning; nobody needs to push or drag.
Common mistakes
- Standing too upright. Sit into the knees a little. Lindy is a grounded dance.
- The lead's arm squeezing. The right hand is a frame, not a clamp.
- Turning on the spot. The couple travels around a shared centre point between them.
Next: the swingout, which uses the same rotation from open position.
Understand it better: Lindy Hop Instruction: Every Style, Every Level · 6-Count and 8-Count: Lindy Hop Rhythm Explained · Bounce and Pulse: How Lindy Hop Feels
Read next
Last reviewed 2026-10-23.