Hi Rick, I am pretty sure that it is not "a la main". The term Allemande has been used as a dance figure for many centuries. Like Dosido and Swing it has many meanings. See https://www.regencydances.org/paper001.php. The current use of it to mean a simple hand turn is referenced in the last paragraph of point 4 in that article. I believe that "a la main" arose from people who heard the term and had never seen it written. Petronella (just before the spin): You should be looking at someone's left ear. Allemande: It's dancing, nor arm-wrestling; if your hand gets closer to you then you lose. For callers who use words like "Men" and "Ladies", but want to reassure people that they can dance in either role: It's just a role, nothing to do with your plumbing! :-) Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574 http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html for Live Music Ceilidhs http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive DVDs -----Original Message----- From: Richard Hart via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> Sent: 04 March 2020 14:03 To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> Subject: [Callers] One liners for callers I sometimes hear callers use quick one liners to make dancers smile, to keep their attention, and to help them remember a move. Here’s a couple I have heard and use during walkthroughs sometimes. 1. For a petronella turn: “Take hands in a ring. Balance the ring. Look at the person in your right hand. They don’t know you are looking at them because they are looking at someone else. You will be standing exactly where they are...... “ 2. For an a la main left: “Raise your left hand as if you were going to do an a la main left. Now do an a la main left.....” What other similar one liners do others use - if any? Rich Hart. Sent from my iPhone _______________________________________________ Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net