There are two basic configurations a partnership can adopt: where the partners face each other, and where they both face the same way. This has special implications for partners in synchronising lower body actions. Let's consider both cases:

Partners facing each other
For their lower bodies to move in phase, the lead's hips swing to the left as the follower's hips swing to the right and vice versa. This occurs for example, when in close (contredanse) hold.

Partners facing the same direction
For their lower bodies to move in phase, the lead's hips swing to the right as the follower's hips swing to the right. For example, when dancing side by side.

During the course of a dance, a couple can go through many changes in configuration, which makes it necessary for one partner to change phase to maintain synchrony. Usually the lead would do so for two reasons:

1. there is no basic signal for a phase change that can be given to a follower;
2. the lead is the person who determines the choreography, and is therefore in a better position to anticipate the need for phase changes.

Phase changing can be broken down into three components, each of which should be mastered:

1. You must be able to perform a step, a tap, and feel the difference between them;
2. You should be able to change between them fluently;
3. You should be able to change to time within a musical framework.