10 Nov
2025
10 Nov
'25
11:52 a.m.
Many people these days deprecate the use of the word Dixie, including in contra, so it
might be useful to notice that this figure is a California twirl as couples.
Just as we generally call “turn alone” or “turn as couples,” it is possible to call “as
couples, California twirl” or “all four, California twirl” — assuming you’ve taught the
figure in the walkthrough. Where I call, CA twirls are common enough that framing it this
way actually helps people understand who does what in the four-person version.
Louise.
On 10 Nov 2025, at 19:25, Winston, Alan P. via Contra
Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Sounds to me like a Dixie Twirl. (I have this in notes for Robert Cromartie's
"Dixie Gal".)
* Dixie Twirl: Without anyone releasing hands, the left-most pair, led by the
end dancer, go under an arch made by the central pair to become the left-most
pair in a line of four facing up. Simultaneously, the right-most pair sweep
across the set to become the right-most pair in the inverted line.
-- Alan
________________________________________
From: Elizabeth Bloom Albert via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Monday, November 10, 2025 8:08 AM
To: Shared Weight callers list
Subject: [Callers] Right hand high and left hand low figure
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Dear callers and fellow dance writers,
I am writing a new contra dance and I have a question:
Has there ever been an instance where, during a “Right hand high and left hand low,”
everybody in a line of FOUR snakes under the raised arms (i.e., no one turns alone) in
order to come back up the hall?
Caller’s Box explains the move as “A way for a line of three to face the other direction
and swap ends without dropping hands.” I want it to be a line of four. Will that work?
Thank you!
--
Elizabeth Bloom Albert
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