Re: [Callers] dances in unusual formations

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