Here are the instructions for the choreography for the May Day Pole Dance ~ as celebrated on Mayne Island (a fabulous FUNdraiser for the Mayne Island Conservancy). 👇
A. PREPARATION (SET-UP) ~
1. 16 dancers take 1 ribbon each, and form a circle around the pole, facing it.
2. We take turns counting "1" - "2" - "1" - "2" (etc) around the circle, so the dancers will be alternating between number 1's and number 2's.
3. 1's turn to face the left, and will therefore be circling clockwise around the circle (and pole). They hold their ribbons high.
4. 2's turn to face the right, and will therefore be circling counter-clockwise around the circle (and pole). They hold their ribbons low.
B. THE DANCE BEGINS!
- The 1's dance (walk, skip, hop, etc) in a clockwise circle ~ alternating between "over" (holding the ribbon high), and "under" (holding the ribbon low while ducking under the ribbon of the "over" (high) dancer).
- The 2's dance (walk, skip, hop, etc) in a counter-clockwise circle ~ alternating between "under" (holding the ribbon low while ducking under the ribbon of the "over" (high) dancer), and "over" (holding the ribbon high) .
- The dance continues until we run out of ribbon, or the music stops (whichever happens first).
c. THE "CAST-OFF" ~
- It looks extra lovely if the dancers give a little twirl as they release the ribbon, and do a curtsy/bow facing the appreciatively applauding audience :)
BONUS POINTS!
* Aim to keep the circle even! As much as possible ;) So, if you see a "traffic jam" ahead, slow down (even dance "on the spot" for a moment ~ do NOT race to join the traffic jam! Lol). If you see there's a big gap in front of you, pick up the pace :)
* As you hold the ribbon high, face away from the pole; as you hold the ribbon low (and duck under the other dancer's ribbon), turn towards the pole. This extra "embellishment" is great memory-assist (it's amazing how easy it can be, in the heat of the moment, to remember who's "over" and who's "under" ~ Lol)!
* Smile!
* Make a mistake? Can't remember who's going "over" and who's going "under"? It does NOT matter! JUST HAVE FUN!!
Thanks to Kat for filming, and to Andrew for helping with the demonstration!
Thanks to the weather gods for making the "Bid Day" (May Day performance) sunnier and less windy than the day we set up the pole! Wowee! 🤩