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 
> <[email protected]> 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 
> <[email protected]>
> Sent: Monday, November 10, 2025 8:08 AM
> To: Shared Weight callers list
> Subject: [Callers] Right hand high and left hand low figure
> 
> BEWARE: This email originated outside of our organization. DO NOT CLICK links 
> or attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
> 
> 
> 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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