Arts >> Dance >> Square Dance

How to Use the Elbow Grip in Executing an Allemande

Square dancing is a traditional type of dance that originated with country dances in France and England. The name of this type of dance stems from the dance's basic formation in which four couples stand on imaginary lines of a square. The "caller" in a square dance tells the dancers which moves to perform as they are dancing. One common step is the allemande, which is a type of turn. During an allemande, dancing partners appear to grip each other's elbows as they turn.

Instructions

    • 1

      Face your square. This is the person who is next to you diagonally. If you turn your back to your partner, you will be facing your square.

    • 2

      Extend your left arm and place your left hand on the inside of your square's left forearm. Your square will perform the same movement simultaneously. Although you don't actually grip each other's elbows, you will be holding each other's forearms just below the elbows.

    • 3

      Turn in a counterclockwise circle with your square.

    • 4

      Release your grip as you complete the circle. You should be facing your partner at this point.

+:
+:

Square Dance

Related Categories