10 Nov
2025
10 Nov
'25
8:08 a.m.
Dear callers and fellow dance writers,
I am writing a new contra dance and I have a question:
Has there ever been an instance where, during a “Right hand high and left
hand low,” everybody in a line of FOUR snakes under the raised arms (i.e.,
no one turns alone) in order to come back up the hall?
Caller’s Box explains the move as “A way for a line of three to face the
other direction and swap ends without dropping hands.” I want it to be a
line of four. Will that work?
Thank you!
--
* Elizabeth Bloom Albert *
10 Nov
10 Nov
6:55 p.m.
Elizabeth --
I can't give you any contra dance examples; I could find you some ceilidh dance
examples, and it's somewhat related to a longsword dance figure.
Doubtless someone will prove me wrong about this, but it seems to me that in a contra
setting the reason we don't see thread the needle is that it's inherently
asymmetrical. In the case of the "California Twirl for couples" Seth and I
described, the arch is in the middle, so you go from a line facing one way to a line
facing the other way in the same space. In whatever you call it when three out of the
four do a right-hand-high,left-hand-low, they're still occupying the same footprint
afterward. In the case of a thread-the-needle the the arch is on one end; the other end
goes through it and if they just pull it straight they're now facing the other way but
they're several feet offset from where the line was.
(You could use a thread-the-needle to go from a line of four facing down to a circle left
facing in that was still within the old set lines. but you'd also still have the
problem that the last person to go under the arch (who is half of the arch) has to do a
twizzle under that some people find confusing, and you've generally got to allow more
than two bars for them to accomplish it.)
-- Alan
________________________________________
From: Elizabeth Bloom Albert via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Monday, November 10, 2025 12:15 PM
To: Yoyo Zhou
Cc: Shared Weight callers list
Subject: [Callers] Re: Right hand high and left hand low figure
BEWARE: This email originated outside of our organization. DO NOT CLICK links or
attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Thank you, Yoyo
Do you have an example of a dance where a "thread the needle" happens?
On Mon, Nov 10, 2025 at 11:19 AM Yoyo Zhou
<yozhov@gmail.com<mailto:yozhov@gmail.com>> wrote:
The general figure:
- Dancers are in a line (facing down)
- Two dancers make an arch
- One side goes through the arch, the other side goes around (to face back up)
(Dancers end up in the same order left-to-right, but facing up instead of down. It's
like the line rotates 180 degrees.)
In a line of 3, it's usually "right hand high, left hand low" (left side
goes through).
In a line of 4, Dixie twirl is most common (middle 2 arch, right side goes through). But
I've found "left 2 arch, right side goes through" also works well and is
easy to teach (I've called this "thread the needle", by analogy with dances
where this kind of figure happens for a larger number of people in a line). Maybe
that's closer to what you mean when you say "everybody" goes under?
Yoyo Zhou
On Mon, Nov 10, 2025 at 8:25 AM Elizabeth Bloom Albert via Contra Callers
<contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>>
wrote:
Very cool.
Thank you!
On Mon, Nov 10, 2025 at 10:19 AM John Sweeney via Contra Callers
<contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>>
wrote:
Hi Elizabeth,
Yes, it is called a Dixie Twirl – here is how to do it:
https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/Glossary.htm
There are lots in Caller’s Box. Here is an easy one of mine:
https://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/DixieDoo-Dah.html
You need to emphasise that the end people need to get to the OTHER end of
their line!
Did you know that the three-person version goes back to 1651:
https://playforddances.com/dances/peppers-black/ ? It is the last figure. :-)
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john@modernjive.com<mailto:john@modernjive.com>
01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
From: Elizabeth Bloom Albert via Contra Callers
<contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>>
Sent: 10 November 2025 16:08
To: Shared Weight callers list
<callers@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>>
Subject: [Callers] Right hand high and left hand low figure
Dear callers and fellow dance writers,
I am writing a new contra dance and I have a question:
Has there ever been an instance where, during a “Right hand high and left hand low,”
everybody in a line of FOUR snakes under the raised arms (i.e., no one turns alone) in
order to come back up the hall?
Caller’s Box explains the move as “A way for a line of three to face the other direction
and swap ends without dropping hands.” I want it to be a line of four. Will that work?
Thank you!
--
Elizabeth Bloom Albert
_______________________________________________
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contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
To unsubscribe send an email to
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--
Elizabeth Bloom Albert
_______________________________________________
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--
Elizabeth Bloom Albert
1:45 p.m.
Hi Elizabeth,
If you want even more threading see this great Square Dance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZD_C52eVt4
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZD_C52eVt4&t=297s> &t=297s
Appalachian Big Set also has “Snake in the Fence”. After leading a line of
people into a tight spiral (Winding Up the Ball of Yarn) the leader starts to dive
randomly between couples to get back to the outside! Best not use too long a line and
take it slowly!
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com <mailto:john@modernjive.com>
01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
From: Elizabeth Bloom Albert <ealbert75(a)gmail.com>
Sent: 10 November 2025 20:16
To: Yoyo Zhou <yozhov(a)gmail.com>
Cc: john(a)modernjive.com; Shared Weight callers list
<callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Re: Right hand high and left hand low figure
Thank you, Yoyo
Do you have an example of a dance where a "thread the needle" happens?
1:37 p.m.
Hi Elizabeth,
Eight-person Thread the Needle
The Witch’s Reel (original version): https://youtu.be/SMkeHBVxltg
Instructions:
https://barndances.org.uk/detail.php?Title=Witches_Reel_%28Original_version…
With a link to the more common version danced today.
My 48-bar version:
The Witch's Fortune: https://youtu.be/Gwhzl-NVRL4
Instructions: https://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/TheWitch'sFortune.html
Six Person Double Travelling Thread the Needle + Double Dolphin Hey
Quintilinear: https://youtu.be/lDIy_Cyp6aU
Instructions: https://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/Quintilinear.html
I hope that helps :-)
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com <mailto:john@modernjive.com>
01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
From: Elizabeth Bloom Albert <ealbert75(a)gmail.com>
Sent: 10 November 2025 20:16
To: Yoyo Zhou <yozhov(a)gmail.com>
Cc: john(a)modernjive.com; Shared Weight callers list
<callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Re: Right hand high and left hand low figure
Thank you, Yoyo
Do you have an example of a dance where a "thread the needle" happens?
12:15 p.m.
Thank you, Yoyo
Do you have an example of a dance where a "thread the needle" happens?
On Mon, Nov 10, 2025 at 11:19 AM Yoyo Zhou <yozhov(a)gmail.com> wrote:
The general figure:
- Dancers are in a line (facing down)
- Two dancers make an arch
- One side goes through the arch, the other side goes around (to face back
up)
(Dancers end up in the same order left-to-right, but facing up instead of
down. It's like the line rotates 180 degrees.)
In a line of 3, it's usually "right hand high, left hand low" (left side
goes through).
In a line of 4, Dixie twirl is most common (middle 2 arch, right side goes
through). But I've found "left 2 arch, right side goes through" also works
well and is easy to teach (I've called this "thread the needle", by
analogy
with dances where this kind of figure happens for a larger number of people
in a line). Maybe that's closer to what you mean when you say "everybody"
goes under?
Yoyo Zhou
On Mon, Nov 10, 2025 at 8:25 AM Elizabeth Bloom Albert via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
--
* Elizabeth Bloom Albert *
Very cool.
Thank you!
On Mon, Nov 10, 2025 at 10:19 AM John Sweeney via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Hi Elizabeth,
Yes, it is called a Dixie Twirl – here is how to do it:
https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/Glossary.htm
There are lots in Caller’s Box. Here is an easy one of
mine: https://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/DixieDoo-Dah.html
You need to emphasise that the end people need to get to
the OTHER end of their line!
Did you know that the three-person version goes back to
1651: https://playforddances.com/dances/peppers-black/ ? It is the
last figure. :-)
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 &
07802 940 574
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
*From:* Elizabeth Bloom Albert via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Sent:* 10 November 2025 16:08
*To:* Shared Weight callers list <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Subject:* [Callers] Right hand high and left hand low figure
Dear callers and fellow dance writers,
I am writing a new contra dance and I have a question:
Has there ever been an instance where, during a “Right hand high and
left hand low,” everybody in a line of FOUR snakes under the raised
arms (i.e., no one turns alone) in order to come back up the hall?
Caller’s Box explains the move as “A way for a line of three to face the
other direction and swap ends without dropping hands.” I want it to be a
line of four. Will that work?
Thank you!
--
*Elizabeth Bloom Albert *
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to
contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
--
* Elizabeth Bloom Albert *
_______________________________________________
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To unsubscribe send an email to
contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
11:52 a.m.
Many people these days deprecate the use of the word Dixie, including in contra, so it
might be useful to notice that this figure is a California twirl as couples.
Just as we generally call “turn alone” or “turn as couples,” it is possible to call “as
couples, California twirl” or “all four, California twirl” — assuming you’ve taught the
figure in the walkthrough. Where I call, CA twirls are common enough that framing it this
way actually helps people understand who does what in the four-person version.
Louise.
On 10 Nov 2025, at 19:25, Winston, Alan P. via Contra
Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Sounds to me like a Dixie Twirl. (I have this in notes for Robert Cromartie's
"Dixie Gal".)
* Dixie Twirl: Without anyone releasing hands, the left-most pair, led by the
end dancer, go under an arch made by the central pair to become the left-most
pair in a line of four facing up. Simultaneously, the right-most pair sweep
across the set to become the right-most pair in the inverted line.
-- Alan
________________________________________
From: Elizabeth Bloom Albert via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Monday, November 10, 2025 8:08 AM
To: Shared Weight callers list
Subject: [Callers] Right hand high and left hand low figure
BEWARE: This email originated outside of our organization. DO NOT CLICK links or
attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear callers and fellow dance writers,
I am writing a new contra dance and I have a question:
Has there ever been an instance where, during a “Right hand high and left hand low,”
everybody in a line of FOUR snakes under the raised arms (i.e., no one turns alone) in
order to come back up the hall?
Caller’s Box explains the move as “A way for a line of three to face the other direction
and swap ends without dropping hands.” I want it to be a line of four. Will that work?
Thank you!
--
Elizabeth Bloom Albert
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
11:24 a.m.
Sounds to me like a Dixie Twirl. (I have this in notes for Robert Cromartie's
"Dixie Gal".)
* Dixie Twirl: Without anyone releasing hands, the left-most pair, led by the
end dancer, go under an arch made by the central pair to become the left-most
pair in a line of four facing up. Simultaneously, the right-most pair sweep
across the set to become the right-most pair in the inverted line.
-- Alan
________________________________________
From: Elizabeth Bloom Albert via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Monday, November 10, 2025 8:08 AM
To: Shared Weight callers list
Subject: [Callers] Right hand high and left hand low figure
BEWARE: This email originated outside of our organization. DO NOT CLICK links or
attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear callers and fellow dance writers,
I am writing a new contra dance and I have a question:
Has there ever been an instance where, during a “Right hand high and left hand low,”
everybody in a line of FOUR snakes under the raised arms (i.e., no one turns alone) in
order to come back up the hall?
Caller’s Box explains the move as “A way for a line of three to face the other direction
and swap ends without dropping hands.” I want it to be a line of four. Will that work?
Thank you!
--
Elizabeth Bloom Albert
9:19 a.m.
The general figure:
- Dancers are in a line (facing down)
- Two dancers make an arch
- One side goes through the arch, the other side goes around (to face back
up)
(Dancers end up in the same order left-to-right, but facing up instead of
down. It's like the line rotates 180 degrees.)
In a line of 3, it's usually "right hand high, left hand low" (left side
goes through).
In a line of 4, Dixie twirl is most common (middle 2 arch, right side goes
through). But I've found "left 2 arch, right side goes through" also works
well and is easy to teach (I've called this "thread the needle", by analogy
with dances where this kind of figure happens for a larger number of people
in a line). Maybe that's closer to what you mean when you say "everybody"
goes under?
Yoyo Zhou
On Mon, Nov 10, 2025 at 8:25 AM Elizabeth Bloom Albert via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Very cool.
Thank you!
On Mon, Nov 10, 2025 at 10:19 AM John Sweeney via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Hi Elizabeth,
Yes, it is called a Dixie Twirl – here is how to do it:
https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/Glossary.htm
There are lots in Caller’s Box. Here is an easy one of
mine: https://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/DixieDoo-Dah.html
You need to emphasise that the end people need to get to the
OTHER end of their line!
Did you know that the three-person version goes back to
1651: https://playforddances.com/dances/peppers-black/ ? It is the last
figure. :-)
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 &
07802 940 574
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
*From:* Elizabeth Bloom Albert via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Sent:* 10 November 2025 16:08
*To:* Shared Weight callers list <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Subject:* [Callers] Right hand high and left hand low figure
Dear callers and fellow dance writers,
I am writing a new contra dance and I have a question:
Has there ever been an instance where, during a “Right hand high and
left hand low,” everybody in a line of FOUR snakes under the raised arms
(i.e., no one turns alone) in order to come back up the hall?
Caller’s Box explains the move as “A way for a line of three to face the
other direction and swap ends without dropping hands.” I want it to be a
line of four. Will that work?
Thank you!
--
*Elizabeth Bloom Albert *
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to
contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
--
* Elizabeth Bloom Albert *
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
8:24 a.m.
Very cool.
Thank you!
On Mon, Nov 10, 2025 at 10:19 AM John Sweeney via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Hi Elizabeth,
Yes, it is called a Dixie Twirl – here is how to do it:
https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/Glossary.htm
There are lots in Caller’s Box. Here is an easy one of mine:
https://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/DixieDoo-Dah.html
You need to emphasise that the end people need to get to the
OTHER end of their line!
Did you know that the three-person version goes back to 1651:
https://playforddances.com/dances/peppers-black/ ? It is the last
figure. :-)
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802
940 574
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
*From:* Elizabeth Bloom Albert via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Sent:* 10 November 2025 16:08
*To:* Shared Weight callers list <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Subject:* [Callers] Right hand high and left hand low figure
Dear callers and fellow dance writers,
I am writing a new contra dance and I have a question:
Has there ever been an instance where, during a “Right hand high and left
hand low,” everybody in a line of FOUR snakes under the raised arms
(i.e., no one turns alone) in order to come back up the hall?
Caller’s Box explains the move as “A way for a line of three to face the
other direction and swap ends without dropping hands.” I want it to be a
line of four. Will that work?
Thank you!
--
*Elizabeth Bloom Albert *
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
--
* Elizabeth Bloom Albert *
8:23 a.m.
New subject: [External] Right hand high and left hand low figure
Dixie twirl! I love it.
Thank you!
On Mon, Nov 10, 2025 at 10:16 AM Tepfer, Seth <labst(a)emory.edu> wrote:
Take a look at Jermone Grisanti's Gateway to the
south:
Vidoe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo217RbAHt4
Jerome's website:
https://www.jeromegrisanti.com/dance_compositions_by_jerome.htm#Gateway
Caller box:
https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=4963
Seth Tepfer (he, him, his)
Software Engineering, Emory Primate Center
------------------------------
*From:* Elizabeth Bloom Albert via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Sent:* Monday, November 10, 2025 11:08 AM
*To:* Shared Weight callers list <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Subject:* [External] [Callers] Right hand high and left hand low figure
Dear callers and fellow dance writers,
I am writing a new contra dance and I have a question:
Has there ever been an instance where, during a “Right hand high and left
hand low,” everybody in a line of FOUR snakes under the raised arms
(i.e., no one turns alone) in order to come back up the hall?
Caller’s Box explains the move as “A way for a line of three to face the
other direction and swap ends without dropping hands.” I want it to be a
line of four. Will that work?
Thank you!
--
* Elizabeth Bloom Albert *
--
* Elizabeth Bloom Albert *
8:19 a.m.
Hi Elizabeth,
Yes, it is called a Dixie Twirl – here is how to do it:
https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/Glossary.htm
There are lots in Caller’s Box. Here is an easy one of mine:
https://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/DixieDoo-Dah.html
You need to emphasise that the end people need to get to the OTHER end of
their line!
Did you know that the three-person version goes back to 1651:
https://playforddances.com/dances/peppers-black/ ? It is the last figure. :-)
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England <mailto:john@modernjive.com> john(a)modernjive.com
01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574
<http://www.contrafusion.co.uk> http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
From: Elizabeth Bloom Albert via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: 10 November 2025 16:08
To: Shared Weight callers list <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Callers] Right hand high and left hand low figure
Dear callers and fellow dance writers,
I am writing a new contra dance and I have a question:
Has there ever been an instance where, during a “Right hand high and left hand low,”
everybody in a line of FOUR snakes under the raised arms (i.e., no one turns alone) in
order to come back up the hall?
Caller’s Box explains the move as “A way for a line of three to face the other direction
and swap ends without dropping hands.” I want it to be a line of four. Will that work?
Thank you!
--
Elizabeth Bloom Albert
8:16 a.m.
New subject: [External] Right hand high and left hand low figure
Take a look at Jermone Grisanti's Gateway to the south:
Vidoe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo217RbAHt4
Jerome's website:
https://www.jeromegrisanti.com/dance_compositions_by_jerome.htm#Gateway
Caller box: https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=4963
Seth Tepfer (he, him, his)
Software Engineering, Emory Primate Center
________________________________
From: Elizabeth Bloom Albert via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Monday, November 10, 2025 11:08 AM
To: Shared Weight callers list <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: [External] [Callers] Right hand high and left hand low figure
Dear callers and fellow dance writers,
I am writing a new contra dance and I have a question:
Has there ever been an instance where, during a “Right hand high and left hand low,”
everybody in a line of FOUR snakes under the raised arms (i.e., no one turns alone) in
order to come back up the hall?
Caller’s Box explains the move as “A way for a line of three to face the other direction
and swap ends without dropping hands.” I want it to be a line of four. Will that work?
Thank you!
--
Elizabeth Bloom Albert
4
days inactive
5
days old
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
11 comments
6 participants
participants (6)
-
Elizabeth Bloom Albert -
john＠modernjive.com -
Louise Siddons -
Tepfer, Seth -
Winston, Alan P. -
Yoyo Zhou