Allemande in Reel, Jig and Strathspey Time

This is a figure of progression.

Allemande hold is used: man takes his partner's right hand in his right hand and her left in his left (right hands on top). He lifts her right hand over her head to hold it just above, but not resting on, her right shoulder. The man leads with his left hand (left hands held out in front). All couples should raise the hands into allemande hold in unison. The time of this movement depends on the previous formation in the particular dance and should be done smoothly. The figure is danced within the set.

(start with woman on man's right)

skip change of step or strathspey traveling throughout (8 bars, 8 steps)

1 Starting from the middle of the set both couples dance a short step diagonally to the right

2 1^st man wheels (pivots) round bringing his partner beside him to face the man's side

(2^nd couple follow)

3 1^st couple dance a step across the dance and begin to turn down the man's side

(2^nd couple follow)

4 1^st couple dance a long step down the dance

(2^nd couple follow into line of dance, also facing down)

5 Each man with a very short step brings his partner round into a line

facing the woman's side of the dance

6 Both couples dance into the middle,

and at the same time each man bringing his partner round under her right arm to face him

(they are close together in the center of the set)

7 Releasing hands, both couples dance one step backward with the right foot

8 Both couples dance one step backward with the left foot to finish on own side

(the order now is 2, 1 - first couple having progressed one place)

TO RECAP:

Out to the right

First couple pivot

Across and down

All in line (all face down)

Face the center

Ladies under (into the middle)

Fall back - Fall back

(start with woman on man's right)

skip change strathspey traveling throughout (8bars, 8 steps)

1 Starting from the middle of the set, all three couples dance a step diagonally to the right

and 1^st man wheels round bringing his partner beside him

2 1^st couple dance across to the man's side and face down (2^nd and 3^rd couples follow)

3 1^st and 2^nd couples dance down the man's side (3^rd couple follow)

4 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd couples dance down the man's side.

5 Each man brings his partner round into a line facing the woman's side of the dance

6All dance into the middle, each man bringing his partner round under her right arm to face him

7 Releasing hands, all dance one step backward with the right foot

8 All dance one step backward with the left foot to finish on own side

(order is now 3, 2, 1 - 1^st couple having progressed two places)

(start with woman on man's right)

skip change strathspey traveling throughout (8bars, 8 steps)

1 Starting from the middle of the set, 1^st man wheels round bringing his partner beside him

and they dance across to the man's side. (2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th couples follow)

2 1^st couple dance down the man's side (2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th couples follow)

3 Continue as in Bar 2

4 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th couples dance down the man's side

5 Each man brings his partner round into a line facing the woman's side.

6 All dance into the middle, each man bringing his partner round under her right arm to face him

7 Releasing hands, all dance one step backward with the right foot

8 All dance one step backward with the left foot to finish on own side

(order is now 4, 3, 2, 1 - 1^st couple has progressed 3 places)

(start with woman on man's right)

the figure is danced within the set

four skip change of step strathspey traveling (4 bars)

1 Starting from the middle, 1^st man wheels round bringing his partner beside him

and they dance towards the man's side to face down

2 1^st couple dance down and then face the woman's side

3 1^st couple dance in to the middle,

man bringing his partner round under her right arm to face him

4 1^st couple dance one step backward with left foot to finish on own side

(start with woman on man's LEFT)

reverse the hands in the Allemande hold - left hands on top -

He lifts her left hand over her head to hold it just above, but not resting on, her left shoulder. The man leads with his right hand

8 skip change of step strathspey traveling in 8 bars of music

1 Starting from the middle of the set, all three couples dance a step diagonally to the left

and 1^st man wheels round bringing his partner beside him

2 1^st couple dance across to the woman's side and face down, 2^nd and 3^rd couples follow

3 1^st and 2^nd couples dance down the woman's side (3^rd couple follow)

4 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd couples dance down the woman's side

5 Each man brings his partner round into a line facing the man's side of the dance

6 All dance into the middle, each man bringing his partner round under leer left arm to face him

7 Releasing hands, all dance one step backward with the right foot

8 All dance one step backward with the left foot to finish on opposite side

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