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of the West and Southwest |
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The Once-andra-Half
"Once-and-a-Half" is the Western term for the movement known in the East as the "Grand Allemande," when it is danced out of a Grand Right and Left as a continuing variation of that movement. The dancers meet their Partners halfway around the set in the Grand Right and Left and take the Right Forearm grasp instead of the one-hand hold, and swing one and one half times around clockwise with Partners; then they take the Left Forearm grasp with the next person in the set, and again swing one and one half times around, progressing to the next person and swinging one and one half times around with the Right Forearm grasp. The dancers now progress to the next person in the set, who are swung one and one half times around with the Left Forearm Grasp, and the dancers now meet their Partners, with whom right hands are taken, and they pivot into the skating position and Promenade once around the set in sixteen beats of music. The "Once-and-a-Half" movement just described requires thirty-two beats of music to dance. In this movement, the dancers should take the Forearm grasp with the next person as they release their hold with the person just swung.
This movement is often called for as an "Elbow Swing." The Forearm Swing should be substituted between ladies and gentlemen, or between ladies, whenever an Elbow Swing is called for. It is better dancing and easier and better Square Dance manners. It is difficult to dance into and out of an Elbow Swing. Reserve that movement and swing for the gentlemen when they dance together.
The Back Track
The "Back Track" is another popular Grand Right and Left variation. Often it is called as "Meet your Partners and turn right back," or, "Around your own, the other way home." It |
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