Thank you, Yoyo Do you have an example of a dance where a "thread the needle" happens?
On Mon, Nov 10, 2025 at 11:19 AM Yoyo Zhou <[email protected]> wrote: > The general figure: > - Dancers are in a line (facing down) > - Two dancers make an arch > - One side goes through the arch, the other side goes around (to face back > up) > (Dancers end up in the same order left-to-right, but facing up instead of > down. It's like the line rotates 180 degrees.) > > In a line of 3, it's usually "right hand high, left hand low" (left side > goes through). > > In a line of 4, Dixie twirl is most common (middle 2 arch, right side goes > through). But I've found "left 2 arch, right side goes through" also works > well and is easy to teach (I've called this "thread the needle", by analogy > with dances where this kind of figure happens for a larger number of people > in a line). Maybe that's closer to what you mean when you say "everybody" > goes under? > > Yoyo Zhou > > > On Mon, Nov 10, 2025 at 8:25 AM Elizabeth Bloom Albert via Contra Callers < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> Very cool. >> Thank you! >> >> On Mon, Nov 10, 2025 at 10:19 AM John Sweeney via Contra Callers < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Hi Elizabeth, >>> >>> Yes, it is called a Dixie Twirl – here is how to do it: >>> https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/Glossary.htm >>> >>> >>> >>> There are lots in Caller’s Box. Here is an easy one of >>> mine: https://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/DixieDoo-Dah.html >>> >>> >>> >>> You need to emphasise that the end people need to get to >>> the OTHER end of their line! >>> >>> >>> >>> Did you know that the three-person version goes back to >>> 1651: https://playforddances.com/dances/peppers-black/ ? It is the >>> last figure. :-) >>> >>> >>> >>> Happy dancing, >>> >>> John >>> >>> >>> >>> John Sweeney, Dancer, England [email protected] 01233 625 362 & >>> 07802 940 574 >>> >>> http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> *From:* Elizabeth Bloom Albert via Contra Callers < >>> [email protected]> >>> *Sent:* 10 November 2025 16:08 >>> *To:* Shared Weight callers list <[email protected]> >>> *Subject:* [Callers] Right hand high and left hand low figure >>> >>> >>> >>> 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 * >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] >>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>> [email protected] >>> >> >> >> -- >> >> * Elizabeth Bloom Albert * >> _______________________________________________ >> Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] >> To unsubscribe send an email to >> [email protected] >> > -- * Elizabeth Bloom Albert *
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