by Elizabeth Bloom Albert
Sicilian Circle; improper formation (Partners begin the dance facing either CW or CCW around the circle. This is their direction of progression)
See it danced here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA7TDidC5nM
NEW DANCE FIGURE ALERT!
Left-diagonal Thump the Snake:
As couples (with ladies in the lead), dancers (neighbors) travel to the left and on the left diagonal across the set, passing back-to-back the couple coming towards them. Dancers then continue moving to the left (again on the left diagonal) back to their original (inner/outer) side of the set, coming face-to-face with the next couple.
Right-diagonal Thump the Snake:
Same as above, except dancers are moving to the right and on the right diagonal.
Helpful tip: Dancers have two shadows during this move:
Shadow # 1 is opposite them as they travel back-to-back in A1 and in B1
Shadow # 2 will circle left with them in A2
I suggest teaching the new figure before teaching the rest of the dance. And I suggest walking dancers thru what I am calling a training-wheels version before you tackle the actual move. This will give dancers a chance to meet their shadows and also start building some muscle memory for what some might find a challenging (but very fun) new figure:
The training wheel version:
“The figure starts from this hands-four position (your partner is across from you; your neighbor is beside you). And now, let’s meet the other dancers you’ll be interacting with:
“Drop hands with your partner and everyone shift left to the next couple. You can tell these folks: ‘I’ll see you soon WITH THE EYES IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD,’ ha ha ha.
“Shift left again to the next couple. The person directly across from you is your SECOND shadow and you will be doing many a satisfying circle left with them (after we take the training wheels off).
“For now, neighbors should rearrange themselves with the lady on the right and shift back to the right; these are your First Shadows. Take a good look at these people; it’s the last you’ll see of them, ha ha ha.
“And finally, shift right to your partner.
And now the actual figure:
“Neighbors should rearrange themselves (again) with the lady on the left. This time as you shift to the left, you will do so on a left-diagonal, such that you are not coming face-to-face with your First Shadows, but rather passing by them back-to-back, after which neighbor-couples continue to slither like snakes, moving to the left on a left-diagonal until they are face-to-face with their 2nd Shadows
“Circle left; swing your neighbor. End swing with lady on the right and do the same figure in reverse to get back to your partner.”
A1 (8) Circle Left {1 full time around}
[Neighbors, with Lady in lead and passing shadows #1]
(8) Left-diagonal Thump the Snake
A2 [with shadows #2]
(8) Circle Left {1 full time around}
(8) Swing Neighbor*
*The neighbor swing will be on the inner ring for some, the outer ring for others
B1 {Back-tracking to the right}
[Neighbors, with Lady in lead and passing shadows #1]
(8) Right-diagonal Thump the Snake
(8) Circle RIGHT {1 full time around}
B2 (16) Balance-Swing Partner**
[End swing facing original direction]
**The partner swing is in center.