A handhold is a manner the dancers hold each other's hands during the dance. A hold is the way one partner holds another one with hands. Hold and handhold are important components of connection in dance.
Waist-hand holdShoulder-waist holdShoulder blade holdBallroom holdBanjo holdBarn dance holdButterfly hold: in face-to-face dance position, the arms are extended sideways palm to palm, elbows slightly bentShoulder hold (varsouvienne hold)Cross-back holdPromenade holdShort-arm holdSkaters holdBack skaters hold: partners side-by-side, same hands joined, man right arm around lady's waist with right hands on the lady's right hip, left hands joined in front, man's hand palm up Front skaters holdV holdHammerlock holdSweetheart holdCuddle holdWhen danced in line or circle formation, the handholds usually connect a dancer with the two immediate neighbors, sometimes with the two second next neighbors. Exceptions are free hands of the first and last persons in the line formation.
A number of these holds may be used in couple dances (a couple is a line of just two).
Shoulder holdChain holdBasket holdFront basket hold: Arms are extended sideways in front of the neighbors to connect with the arms of the second next personBack basket hold: Arms are extended sideways behind the neighbors to connect with the arms of the second next personBelt hold: Each dancer holds the belts of the neighborsEscort hold: one arm slightly rounded with arm at waist level, the neighbor from this side place the opposite hand on the forearm through the space formed by founded arm 