8 Aug
2019
8 Aug
'19
3:44 a.m.
I rather like the term Greg Frock's suggestion (not claimed to be original) of
"Thread the Needle". While I've heard "Thread the Needle" used
with other meanings, I think there's little danger of confusion in the contra context,
especially since that the action is rare enough that the caller will presumably need to
teach it.
Ric Goldman wrote:
I’ve sometimes come across this a Paired Twirl, a
Paired California Twirl, a California Four, or an Arch and Swap (taught this way):
In a line-of-4 facing all the same, middles raise an arch and, keeping
hands, right-hand pair goes under the arch (led by end dancer) while left-hand pair cross
over to the other side (led by the end dancer).
End result is the same line-of-4, facing back the other way, much as a
California Twirl does for 2 dancers.
This description also avoids any gender-specific terms in case that’s an offense issue
for others.
In modern western square dance terminology, the figure might be called "As Couples,
California Twirl" though I don't know whether it actually is (since it might be
claimed that that would imply the right hand pair going under the arch side-by-side--which
could require quite a stretch of the arching dancers' arms--rather than with the end
dancer in the lead).
Digressing for a moment from the terminology, I'll take the opportunity to opine that
the action could be smoother if the two dancers nearest the left end of the line are the
ones who make the arch, rather than the two center dancers. (Anyone agree? disagree?)
Regardless of who makes the arch, it's important that the dancer on the left end of
the line remember to move across the set instead standing still as if only the right hand
dancers were active.
Returning to terminology, note that if the leftmost pair of dancers make the arch. then
"As Couples, California Twirl" definitely will not bean accurate description,
but I think "Thread the Needle" would be just fine.
--Jim