How to Dance the Allemande

The allemande is a couples' dance that can move either forward or backward. Most often it proceeds forward, with couples forming a line and moving together. Square dances and country-western dances use different versions of the allemande.

Instructions

1. Stand next to your partner, facing opposite directions. The woman must be on the man's right side. Join your right elbows, place your right hand against your partner's lower back and hold your partner's waiting left hand. Reach your left hand behind your back and hold your partner's right hand. Use this position to travel with your partner for a count of eight to start the allemande.

2. Join your right hands and rotate the woman once counterclockwise under the man's arm to end side by side, facing the same direction. Hold right hands just above the woman's right shoulder, with the man's right arm behind the woman's upper back. Lead with joined left hands.

3. Step once to the left, then step your right leg to join the left. This is a step-together move. Lift yourself up on your toes, then bring your feet back down to the ground. Give a knee-up kick with your right leg. Each of these moves is done to a count of two.

4. Take one step to the left to continue allemande. Go up on your toes on just the left leg. Then lower your left foot and perform the same knee high kick with the right leg. Count one for these moves.

5. Get back into the traveling position of Step 1. Drop your left hands and turn the woman clockwise, under the man's arm. Drop your right hands as each of you takes the other's left hand behind your partner's back.

Tips & Warnings

• Start slowly with your partner until you're comfortable with the allemande hand positions.