From a MWSD perspective, Half Sashayed means that the dancers are in opposite rolls. The call rollaway with/to a half sachay is now discouraged, but it most often put the ladies on the man's left, thus they were half sashayed. Today, as all position dance and dance by definition, are commom MWSD terms the rollaway to a half sashay no longer works, but that is the root of the confusion.Acommon break sequence is
A1 Four ladies chain (8), Rollaway(4) and circle left (4)
A2 Four ladies rollaway (4) Circle left (4), Allemande Left
B1 R&L Grande (10), Dosiso (6)
B2 Promenade (16)
At the end of A1, the men have rotated 1/4 around the square, at the end of A2, men have rotated 1/2. The R&L Grande brings them back to home for a full promenade. The men are essentially stationary during the rollaway, and move on the two circle left commands.
Half Sashay (4) is usually called to accomplish the role switch when it is not a circle formation to begin. The sequence of Heads, R&L thru, Heads Half Sashay, Heads Star Thru leaves the heads in the center of the square facing their corner. This "half sashay" call requires the men to slide to the right as the lady moves forward, slides left, and backs up.
The call "rollaway with a half sashay' is redundant effectively restoring dancers to their original position. That is the reason it's use is discouraged and being discontinued.
Rich
Stafford Springs, CT