I know the "Spiral Dance" as just one figure from either The Grand March, where it is The Serpentine March, or Appalachian Big Set, where it is Winding Up the Ball o' Yarn.

The Grand March

This goes back a couple of hundred years. These are some of the figures that are documented:

Promenade as Couples in a Circle

In Columns: Starting from a corner: Lead the couples backwards and forwards across the room to make parallel lines heading opposite directions; reform the Circle

Promenade Tunnel (the tunnel can be one-handed and move back along the line of march)

Serpentine March: Circle Left; Spiral in; Spiral out

March By Platoons: March up Hall as individuals, take alternate directions (as singles, couples, fours) to loop back to the bottom – march up as 2s, then 4s, then 8s

Promenade Tunnel (Arbor March): During the promenade, one set of partners face each other and make a two hand arch.  The next set of dancers moves under the arch and also makes an arch. This pattern follows with all dancers in the circle.  When the last set of dances has made an arch the first set of dancers dismantles their arch and walks under all other arches using a single file formation.  All other partners do the same until everyone is moving in a single file formation back to their original spot in the circle.

For the Appalachian Big Set version see Stu Jamieson’s wonderful document at https://squaredancehistory.org/items/show/656

It has LOTS more figures that you can use.

You can see me calling a few figures at https://youtu.be/V3RFVVmG8Sc (now available)

As I approach the middle I say, “Oh, dear! Have I made a terrible mistake?  Keep moving left, keep holding hands.”  Then I turn and put my left arm straight out in front of me to divide the lines of dancers, so that they can see that we are coming through.

There are multiple versions of finishing the spiral by passing under arches, but some are challenging in that they take too long and many people are stationary, or that people end up with their arms wrenched backwards.  Take care!

If you like arches try The Double Bow Knot Square: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZD_C52eVt4

            Happy dancing,

                   John                      

John Sweeney, Dancer, England   john@modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574

http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent