Allemande

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The Allemande was a processional couple dance with stately, flowing steps, fashionable in 16th century aristocratic circles and was revised in the 18th century as a figure dance. The earlier dance originated in Germany but became popular in France and England (where it was known as the almain or almand, referring to its German origin (cf. the feminine noun in French for Germany is Allemande)). The earlier dance's popularity waned in the 17th century. In the allemande the dancers formed a line of couples, extended their paired hands forward, and paraded back and forth the length of the ballroom, walking three steps, then balancing on one foot; a livelier version used three springing steps and a hop. During the 17th century, composers returned to the allemande. The result was a stylized version of the dance, which became the first movement of the Baroque suite (only to be superceded during the later Baroque by the prelude or introduction). In the 18th century, the dance became a figure dance in 2/4 time for four couples; one of its handholds possibly derived from the earlier allemande. The dancers performed intricate turns called enchaînements, or passés, with elaborate interlacings of the arms.

The Allemande is a slow dance with mainly sixteenth notes and starts with an upbeat, manly an eight or two sixteenth.