[Callers] dances in unusual formations

[James Saxe via Callers]

Another dance I haven't seen mentioned yet in this thread is the
six-couple circle dance "Thread the Needle", not to be confused
with various other, very different dances also titled "Thread the
Needle".  Here's a description:

     Thread the Needle
     Circle of six couples, numbered (in ccw order) 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3

     #1 ladies go out to the right and circle with that #2 couple
         until #1 ladies are facing ccw around the big circle.
         #2 couples arch and #1 ladies duck through to #3 couples while
         #2 gents follow up to form circles with #2 couples.
     All circle 3 once around.  #2 & #3 couples arch and #1 dancers
         duck to next couple ccw around the set.)
     Repeat circling and ducking to next two more times.  [At this point
         #1 ladies are again with their original #2 couples.]
     #3 couples with #1 gents circle left once while #2 couples with #1
         ladies circle just halfway.  #2 and #3 couples arch and #1
         dancers duck through to original home positions.
     All swing partners.

     The whole dance repeats with #2 ladies starting (and #2 gents
     following) and again with #3 dancers active.

When I've danced this, the callers have mixed the main figure described 
above with "break figures", typically involving a grand right and left
or some variation thereof.  There are lots of square-dance break figures
that you can easily adapt to work for a six-couple circle .  For one
example, see this video of "Thread the Needle" with calling by Phil
Jamison:

     http://squaredancehistory.org/items/show/297
     (also at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_Ha27GDnSU )

--Jim