Arm Turns
Starting formations
Facing Dancers, Mini-Wave
Starting formations
Facing Dancers; any Wave including Alamo Ring or Mini-Wave
Command examples
Left Arm Turn 3/4
Walk Around Your Corner; Turn Partner By The Left; 4 Ladies Chain
Slip The Clutch; Turn By The Left 3/4, Check An Alamo Ring
All Arm Turn Half
Centers Arm Turn 3/4
Men Star Left 3/4; Turn Corner Right Arm Turn; Do Paso
Allemande Left, Turn partner by the right once around;
Men star left 1/2, turn opposite by the right
3/4 to an alamo ring, ...
Turn A Right Hand Half
Alamo Ring: Swing Thru; Turn Your Partner By The Right;
Allemande Left
Dance action
Dancers join indicated forearms and walk forward around each other. The amount of turn
can be specified as a fraction (e.g., Half (180 degrees), 3/4 (270 degrees), Full (360 degrees) or implicitly
by the next call (e.g., Turn Partner By the Left; 4 Ladies Chain).
Dance action
Dancers join indicated (Right or Left) forearms and dance forward around each
other as far as directed or as necessary for the next call
(e.g. Right Arm Turn Partner, To The Corner, Allemande Left).
Ending formation
Usually a Mini-wave, or no formation as the dancers prepare to let go of the arm turn
and step forward to do the next call.
Ending formation
Dependent on the next call.
Timing1/2: 4, 3/4: 4 to 6, Full: 6 to 8
StylingForearm hold
Styling
Arms are held past the wrist but not past the elbow joint.
Each dancer places the hand on the inside of the arm of the person with
whom he/she is to work. Do not squeeze tightly.
The pivot point of the turn is the center of the joined forearms.
Teaching Tip
Callers should teach counter dancing as in Allemande Left.
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From a Mini-Wave the distance to turn may be specified by a fraction (e.g., Arm Turn 1/2).
From Facing Dancers the distance to turn must be specified by a relative position (e.g., To A Thar, or To Your Corner) or the next call (e.g., Turn Corner By The Right; Do Paso). It is improper to specify a fraction.
The Mini-Wave formation does not imply a specific handhold. The styling for Arm Turns and calls defined with Arm Turns is a Forearm hold. See the section "Dance Action: Defining Calls with Arm Turns".