Here are descriptions of some good rapper figures, with links to dances in which they appear.

Click on a figure title in the index column to see its description.

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• #5 to center while #4 steps right to close gap; #2 and #3 adjust right to form an X
• #4 to center while #1 steps left to close gap and #5 backs out to replace #1
• #3 to center while #1&5 step left to close gap and #4 backs out to replace #5
• #2 to center while #1&5&4 step left to close gap and #3 backs out to replace #4

  
  3   2     3   2     1   2     5   1
    5         4         3         2
  4   1     1   5     5   4     4   3
              

• #2 backs out between #1 and #3; all adjust to nut position and make the nut

• Swords go up on beat 1
• Feet go “step, STEP, stepity STEP, stepity stepity stepity STEP”
• A new person goes in every 8 beats
• Move to the next formation crisply in two beats (start on 8, land on 2)
• Make the nut on beat 4; swords come down as #2 steps back

• Arms high, handles vertical to make beautiful curved arches
• Line up the X—center person should directly face left rear person, and outside people should see center person directly between themselves and opposite person

• Orientation:

    4   2
  1   3   5
              

• Getting into it:
• #1 and #5 slide (don't cast) to the back and cross (#1 going between #3 and #5) to stand on either side of #3
• #2 cast and #4 slide to the back and stand side-by-side behind #3
• #3 step to the front and smile
• Swords come down smartly in front of #3 on beat 8
• Rotate the set 90 degrees to face each direction
• Feet go "step, step, step, STEP, stepity stepity stepity STEP"
• Getting out of it into the nut:
• Swords go up on beat 1 (#3 push both hands out to save nose)
• #3 step forward and turn left
• #1 and #5 cross to the rear (#1 inside #5) and turn left
• #2 and #4 slide toward the front and face in

• Swords should be neatly aligned and slightly bowed
• #2 and #4 each hold both sword handles together over #3's shoulder
• #3 can hook thumbs over sword at belt-level to keep everything lined up
• Swivel the set with dispatch—move directly to next orientation and then step crisply

• Scoop through to a brief nut
• From open ring, #2 heads toward the gap between #4 and #5 as they head to either side of #2.
• #2 scoops both swords as #4 and #5 leap over (take off on beat 1, land on beat 2).
• All except #3 do a lightning pivot over left shoulder, click swords together on beat 3 and make a (flat!) nut on beat 4.
• Break the nut to a line
• Break the nut on beat 5
• Swords go up on beat 6 as #3, #2, #1 turn right to face out of the set as #4 and #5 come over #2
• Swords come down on beat 8 to form a line (1-5-2-4-3) facing right
• Back scoop to open ring
• #2 back scoops both swords as #1, #2, #3 back up to original places; #4 and #5 leap over (take off on beat 1, land on beat 2) and head forward, turning over right shoulder to original places.
• All step for 4 beats in original open ring
• Repeat everything in the opposite direction:
• #4 scoops between #1 and #2
• #5, #4, #3 turn right to face out of the set as #1 and #2 come over #4
• Form a line (5-1-4-2-3) facing left
• #4 back scoops as #3, #4, #5 back up to original places; #1 and #2 leap over and turn over right shoulder to original places.
• Repeat just initial bit to form nut, but with #3 scooping between #1 and #5.

• Keep rings round, lines straight, swords arced
• Move all together at precise times with the count

• From coach and horses, #1 casts left followed by #2 and #3, while #5 casts right followed by #4
• Continue around in adjacent rings (#123 in one, #45 in the other)

• Keep the two rings of the Curly very tight and close together, shoulders can touch
• Swords arching around should swoop beautifully and not be flat
• Drive forward, don't let it look static

• From nut, all start moving. #5 spins in place over right shoulder. #1 waits briefly for #5, then they head side-by-side up the middle. #2 takes a step out and back, then follows #1. #3 slides right to the back and follows #2. #4 cast out and back, spinning over right shoulder (can roll against #5) and then following #5.
• Continue around in adjacent rings (#1-2-3 in one, #4-5 in the other)

• Keep the two rings of the Curly very tight and close together, shoulders can touch
• Swords arching around should swoop beautifully and not be flat.
• #1/#5 sword makes a beautiful down and forward scoop as #5 completes initial spin.
• Drive forward, don't let it look static

• #3, followed by fool, cross through middle of set between #2 and #4 and cast left
• #1, followed by #2, move toward fool, then cross through middle of set (once fool has passed) and cast right
• #5, followed by #4, move toward #3, then cross through middle of set (once #2 has passed) and cast left
• Continue, crossing in same sequence each time

• Smooth drive

• From nut, cross to the other side while moving back to front (#1 then #5, #2, #4, #3)
• Continue, crossing in same sequence each time

• Keep everything tight and close together:
• Lead with right shoulder when crossing right; left shoulder when crossing left
• After casting, face set while moving to rear
• Keep the swords high and hands strongly vertical; don't duck
• Drive forward, don't let it look static

• Flatten the ring to a line of 5 in each direction, with swords displayed in front of line
• Each dancer in turn becomes the center post of the line
• 5 phrases, each with 4 beats of moving and then 4 beats of stepping

• Start as if making a nut—#1 & #2 cast, #4 & #5 slide
• #3 move forward and face up
• Specifically:
• #1 and #5 come over #3 (2-1-3-5-4 facing up), then
• #5 and #4 come over #2 (1-5-2-4-3 facing left) , then
• #4 and #3 come over #1 (5-4-1-3-2 facing down) , then
• #3 and #2 come over #5 (4-3-5-2-1 facing right) , then
• #2 and #1 come over #4 (3-2-4-1-5 facing up)
• In general:
• Left-hand person in line becomes new post—head directly for center of line (they'll get out of your way) while spinning 3/4 to the right.
• Center and left-center people become new ends
• Right two people become new middles
• Your "shadow" is always in the position you will occupy next. For example, #2 can can watch #3—whatever position #3 has in the current line is the position that #2 will have in the upcoming line.
• Feet go "step, step, step, STEP, stepity stepity stepity STEP"
• End with a nut

• Swords shoot up on beat 1, come snapping down on beat 4
• Give the swords a nice arch when up—no limp flat swords
• Move with dispatch, hitting the lines on beat 4

• From open ring, #1 and #5 scoop sword under #3
• Set is now a staggered (wavy) line (2-1-3-5-4); #1/#5 sword is behind #3
• #3 puts hands on #1/#5 shoulders and back flips over #1/#5 sword
• All go forward, #3 scoops #1 and #5, all but #2 turn left; make nut on beat 8

• Looks best if #3 lands on feet rather than head

• Set is a staggered (wavy) line (5-4-1-3-2); #3/#4 sword is behind #1’s neck
• #4 puts hands on #1/#5 shoulders and back flips over #1/#5 sword while #3 puts hands on #1/#2 shoulders and back flips over #1/#2 sword
• All go forward, #3/#4 scoop #1, all but #2 turn left; make nut

• #3 and #4 take off, flip, and land together

• From guard position, #2 and #4 turn in, spinning in place (#2 right and #4 left), ending with swords crossed slightly awkwardly.
• All raise both swords and move to adjacent spot (#1 moves to #2’s spot; #2 moves to #3’s spot, etc) in 3 steps while spinning one full rotation; #1 and #5 turn in, #2 and #4 turn out, #3 turn left.
• Step for 4 beats in new guard positions
• Repeat 4 times, moving to each adjacent spot in turn and alternating direction of spin (except that you spin left twice in a row as you reach positions #3 and #4)
• When everyone is home, raise swords once more, #2 and #4 spin in place turning out, and all face right in a ring

• Swords move sharply up on beat 1 and sharply down on beat 4
• Spin completely in 3 steps so each guard formation is precisely aligned
• Crisp stepping in place

• Ring round clockwise
• When approaching the front, #1 turns left to walk in an adjacent counterclockwise ring while everyone else continues in the clockwise ring
• When approaching the front in the next rotation, #2 joins the other ring following #1
• In each successive rotation, one additional dancer joins the adjacent ring
• In the 6 rotations of the rings, dancers must raise sword hands as follows:

  	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
  #1:	—	LR	L	L	L	—
  #2:	—	L	R	—	—	—
  #3:	—	—	L	R	—	—
  #4:	—	—	—	L	R	—
  #5:	—	R	R	R	LR	—

  So for example, during the third rotation, #1 and #3 have their left hand swords raised while #2 and #5 have their right hand swords raised.

• Repeat everything to re-form initial ring

• Keep the circles moving smoothly
• Swords move up and down together

• Starts in "face up" ("guard", "coach and horses") position
• First: #1 and #5 cast to the bottom and face up (then all step 4 beats)
• Second: #2 and #4 cast to the bottom and face up while #1 and #5 move between them and #3 (under the swords) and face down (#1/#5 sword now curves behind #3's back) (then all step 4 beats)
• Third: all step forward, and all but #2 turn left; make nut on beat 4
• Rose on beat 5
• Note that nobody steps on beats 1-4, even if stationary (feet go "step, step, step, STEP, stepity stepity stepity STEP")

• Moving is purposeful and snappy, be there on beat 4
• Stepping is crisp and contrasts with the moving
• Swords make beautiful static arches while stepping, especially after second phrase

• Break nut on beat 1. All turn right and step outward onto right foot on beat 2 while bringing right-hand sword over head, forming a big open ring facing out.
• Step for the remainder of the phrase—feet go "step, STEP, stepity STEP, stepity stepity stepity STEP"
• All turn left and step inward onto left foot, bringing right-hand sword over your head. On beat 1, land on your left foot facing in and clicking your right sword on your left.
• Make the nut on beat 2 and the rose on beat 3.
• Step for the remainder of the phrase—feet go "step, STEP, stepity STEP, stepity stepity stepity STEP"
• Repeat all that twice more.

• All moves snappy. Make the stepping good.
• When facing out, make sure the swords are nicely bowed.

• #2/#3 scoop under #5, who jumps on beat 3
• #1/#4 do a slow "windmill spin" out (#1 left, #4 right)
• #4/#5/#1 back scoop under #2/#3, who jump on beat 7
• Repeat, double time:
• Timing:

  #2&3:	1-2-scoop-4,	5-6-jump-8;	1-2-scoop-4,	jump-6-scoop-8
  #1&4:	1-2-scoop-4,	5-6-7-8;	1-2-scoop-4,	5-6-scoop-8
  #5:	1-2-jump-4,	5-6-scoop-8;	1-2-jump-4,	scoop-6-jump-8

• Swords make big smooth rotary motions, not jerky
• Swords are beautifully curved throughout

• #1 scoops under #3/#4, who jump on beat 3
• #2/#5 do a slow "windmill spin" out (#2 right, #5 left)
• #3/#4 back scoop under #1, who jumps on beat 7
• Repeat, double time
• Timing:

  #1:	1-2-scoop-4,	5-6-jump-8;	1-2-scoop-4,	jump-6-scoop-8
  #2&5:	1-2-scoop-4,	5-6-7-8;	1-2-scoop-4,	5-6-scoop-8
  #3&4:	1-2-jump-4,	5-6-scoop-8;	1-2-jump-4,	scoop-6-jump-8

• Swords make big smooth rotary motions, not jerky
• Swords are beautifully curved throughout

• #3 move to front and step in place, while
• #1 followed by #2 cast left; #5 followed by #4 cast right
• Each pair circles #3 twice, passing right shoulders (#1 inside) twice the first time and left shoulders (#1 outside) twice the second time
• At front, both pairs do small loops (same direction as large loops)

• #1 keep left sword high, right sword over shoulder; #2 push left fist into #1's back and keep it there, while right sword is high and not slicing #3's knuckles
• Likewise, #5 keep right sword high, left sword over shoulder; #4 push right fist into #5's back and keep it there, while left sword is high and not slicing #3's knuckles
• #3 smile and step beautifully; stay centered as hands above get pulled forward and back
• #1 and #5 stay together (mirror image) in the small loops, likewise #2 and #4

• Make the nut on an even beat (preferably 4 or 8 but 2 or 6 if you need to)
• Push the swords in with dispatch but not forcefully, at waist level, with left hand slightly up and right hand slightly down
• Make the rose on the next odd beat—it should fly up effortlessly, with everyone taking a half step in and all arms going immediately up
• It should never be difficult to hold the rose up; if it is, you need to step in and/or raise your arms higher
• The height of the rose is determined by the shortest person, who should have just a slight bend in their arms with shoulders down
• Break the rose on beat 1 (some prefer beat 8)

• Note: this requires an earlier surreptitious "Ornetti Grab" (diagram C) as described in Pinewoods 2009.
• #1/3/4 cross right over left to make the inner triangle (see diagram E).
• #2/5/F reach left to neighbor’s “V”, tying swords as shown in diagram F.
• #1 displays the lock (perhaps tightening it first) to wild cheering!
• Clamshell—Fool and #3 slide left outside to trade places with # 4 and #5, who slide right inside (see diagram G).
• #1 turns the lock over and lowers it, with a pair of fixed handles roughly in front and a pair of swivel handles to the right.
• Normalizer Grab—All take nearest swivel with right hand, then reach over with left to take nearest fixed handle (see diagram H).

• With practice you’ll be able to make (and break) the lock quickly and tightly
• #1 display the lock like you mean it—arm held high

• All face out of ring in inverted position (1-2-3-4-5 clockwise), sword on shoulder
• Set is oriented so #3 faces the audience
• Link swords quietly at agreed point in calling-on song. Look at the hand you're placing your sword into, not the sword being placed into your hand!
• Turn left and step inward onto left foot to face in on beat 1 as your (right-hand) sword comes over your head
• Make the (flat!) nut on beat 2
• #1 displays the nut on beat 4
• Feet go "step, STEP, stepity STEP, stepity stepity stepity STEP"

• Big surprise that the nut can be made and displayed so fast
• All moves snappy (make nut, display it, rose, break)
• Make the stepping shine, you're still fresh!

• #2/5/F back-scoop under #1/3/4, who jump on beat 3
• #1/3/4 back-scoop under #2/5/F, who jump on beat 7
• Three more scoops, double-time, so the whole timing is:

#2/5/F:	1-2-scoop-4,	5-6-jump-8;	1-2-scoop-4,	jump-6-scoop-8
#1/3/4:	1-2-jump-4,	5-6-scoop-8;	1-2-jump-4,	scoop-6-jump-8

• Swords make big smooth rotary motions
• Double-footed jumps, straight up and down

• #1 displays the lock (like you mean it—arm held high), then lowers it upside-down on beat 8
• To get the correct swords, cross your hands at your waist with the right wrist across the left; right hand gets the swivel handle and left hand gets the fixed handle
• Raise swords over and around the back of your neighbor
• Move to your left to spin the basket; left foot moves left on odd beats, right foot crosses over on even beats. Use the correct feet!!
• Stop spinning on beat 8, raise swords back over and remake the lock on beat 4
• #1 displays the lock (make ‘em cheer!), then lowers it back in "normal" orientation
• To get the correct swords, right hand first grabs swivel handle then left hand reaches left to grab fixed handle
• End with a rose

• The ring can really fly
• Don't consciously lean out or in; focus instead on really MOVING sideways—centrifugal force will ease your weight back into the swords

• Swords go up after breaking nut, and move to right shoulder, except
• #5 leaves swords raised (and rolls immediately—see below) while #4,3,2,1 ring clockwise underneath
• Don't invert the set—#4,3,2,1 just start moving clockwise
• As #1 approaches, #5 scoops right hand sword with #1 down, around, and up, while turning left half way to face out of the set
• Then #5 immediately scoops left hand sword with #4 down, around, and up, while turning left half way to face back into the set
• 4 revolutions; #5 doesn't roll the last time and the nut is easily re-formed

• Drive the ring around
• #5 swoops swords gracefully one after the other as #1 and #4 go by

• #1 scoops #3 and #4:
• #1 and #3/#4 approach each other, flattening the ring to a line in 2 steps.
• #1 scoops swords on beat 3 as #3 and #4 jump over (both feet) landing on beat 4 (still in a line); all step for 4 beats.
• Feet go “step, step, jump, LAND, stepity stepity stepity STEP”
• #1 back-scoops swords on beat 3 as #3 and #4 jump over (both feet) landing on beat 4 (still in a line); all back up to original ring.
• Feet go “step, step, jump, LAND, step step step STEP”
• #5 scoops #2 and #3 similarly
• #3 scoops #1 and #5 similarly, but instead of the back scoop all turn left to make a nut.

• Scoopers make beautiful arcs with the swords
• Scrape the swords on the ground for dramatic effect (sparks on some surfaces!)
• Jumpers jump straight up and down, lifting both feet

• #4 scoops #1 and #2 to invert the set
• #4 heads for the gap between #1 and #2 while they head toward him/her
• #4 scoops both swords on beat 1 as #1 and #2 leap over, landing on beat 2
• All continue forward to face out in a big ring on beat 4
• Feet go "step, SCOOP, step, STEP, stepity stepity stepity STEP"
• #5 back-scoops #2 and #3 to re-form the open ring
• #4 scoops #1 and #2 to invert the set again
• All turn left and step inward onto left foot to face in on beat 1 as sword comes over your head; make the nut on beat 2

• Before scooping, #4 arcs both swords quietly up and back on beat 8 and then moves them smoothly around and down for the scoop
• Scrape the swords on the ground for dramatic effect (sparks on some surfaces!)
• Move smartly across the set and re-form a big round open ring crisply on beat 4

• On beat 1, #1 raises swords and pulls right shoulder back, stepping slightly out and back to face the set, and slides counter-clockwise around the ring, returning to place behind #5 as the ring continues rotating
• #2, #3, #4, #5 follow on beats 5, 1, 5, 1
• All are once again driving clockwise, but now with swords crossed
• When #1 is near the top, all walk a 4-beat arc left and outward to form an open ring, ending on beat 4 or 8 so #1 and #5 have their backs to the audience

• Slide around the ring briskly with arms raised and chest practically grazing the set
• People in the ring quickly close space vacated by sliding dancer
• Stay together in the arc so the ring expands steadily
• Make the ring big and round; dancers’ arms are almost fully extended; swords are bowed

• From nut, #1 cast over right shoulder, head clockwise; #5 stay put
• #2 (then #3 then #4) go under #1/#5 sword, turn right to follow #1
• All are now driving clockwise

• #1's cast grows smoothly out of breaking the rose
• Don't duck!

• Orientation:

    5   4
  2   3   1
              

• Getting in to it—#3 steps forward while #2, #4, and #5 rotate one position in their triangle; then lower swords in front of #3
• #1 just face up, at left front (hands together near top of stack)
• #2 move to right front, behind #3 & in front of others (hands together below #5's)
• #3 take a step forward, to front (right hand bottom, left hand 1 up from bottom)
• #4 slide left behind #2 and #3 to left rear (top and bottom hand)
• #5 Slide behind all, to right rear (hands together on top of stack)
• Rotate the set 90 degrees to face each direction
• Feet go "step, step, step, STEP, stepity stepity stepity STEP"
• Getting out of it into the nut
• #3 step forward and turn left
• #2 and #4 trade places (more or less) and turn left
• #1 spin left (quick cast) to rear
• #5 smile and look cute

• Line up the hands and take care that the swords look really even—beautiful stripes in front of #3
• Swivel the set with dispatch—move directly to next orientation and then step crisply