Goes by lots of names, spiral, ball of yarn, cinnamon bun. Here's a video of one tacked onto the end of a dance (spiral at about 1 minute in)
I'll note, you can go into it either by drawing the spiral tighter - everyone keeps moving the same direction (say clockwise) but you on the inside overtake folks by going faster. This is probably the easiest entry, and is what's shown in the video.
You can, however, get in a slightly different way. Rather than drawing the spiral tighter, have the line leader make a u-turn so that they're facing back out as they draw the line. This means you don't have to go faster than the outside line to start winding it up, you can move at the same pace. You have folks immediately start passing each other face-to-face on that outside ring, and make a spiral of outward facing folks. When you exit, your outward bound line is facing in. The advantage is that it can help prevent the end of the line from having to really hustle along (crack the whip style).
Either way: for a wedding, if you have the couple right behind you in the line, they'll be the first to the center. Jerome has his quip, I often say something like "this is your community, surrounding and supporting you" right before leading them out.
Have fun.
We have done this for decades and called it winding up the ball of yarn
Bob
I would add this it's important for the dancers to know to keep holding on during the spiral.
Also, I often quip as the ball is nearing its tightest that "planning ahead wasn't always my strongest skill."
Adds a bit of drama as people wonder, "how's this going to end?"
Jerome
I’ve done this often as part of the Grand March, I do it as the first “dance” of the evening. The only people who really need to know what will happen is the first few people - I typically lead the group, and either prompt the next couple of people as necessary
or give them a heads up before the dance. I don’t often do it as a partner dance just so that everyone of all ages can join in, and let everyone know it’s a “follow the leader” dance. I turn on the music, start walking around and have people join onto the
end of the line as I weave around room. Once everyone interested has joined, I lead the line in a circle around the edge of the room. Gradually I tighten the circle in a spiral formation until there’s just a small space in the middle - you do have to slow
down as the spiral tightens to avoid too much pulling on arms. Once there’s just a bit of space in the middle, it’s a sharp u-turn for the leader, then spiral out. It is everyone’s favorite moment when it happens, especially if they didn’t realize it was coming!
From there, as the spiral unwinds I lead around in a circle again until the next set of figures. I will weave in and out of the line without dropping hands as one move. Another is making arches - the first two make an arch, the line travels under and the next
two make an arch and so on everyone has travelled under the arches and then formed one. At the point the arches “collapse” - the lead two people drop their arch and then travel under the arch themselves. Once out on the other side, can either transition to
a move with everyone paired up or form up the line/ring of joined hands. When done with live music, once I’ve completed all the figures I drop hands and everyone gathers around where the band is and claps along until the music stops. Hopefully that makes sense!
I can’t remember which book, but either Sashay the Donut or Listen to the Mockingbird describes some of the different possible moves. Google may bring up some different ideas and videos as well. 🙂
-Jessica
> On Feb 14, 2023, at 7:43 AM, Hannah Chamberlain via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>
> Greeting callers!
> I am calling a friend's wedding this weekend and she requested "the spiral dance," a circle dance where at some point one person leads everyone into a spiral (or, optionally, anywhere around the hall?). I think I've danced it before, but I'm having a hard
time finding a name or notes on how to call it. Can anyone share a version with me?
> Thanks in advance,
> Hannah Chamberlain
> (outside of) Portland, ME
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