La
entretejira or "The Weaving Dance"
Opening sequence: Standard.
Dance pattern:
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Section
1: After calling for turns, the abuelo calls for filing out.
This time, however, only the right line reaches the back of the
hall, while the left line moves forward, turns out, but stops before
filing back. In this way, the two lines are left facing each other
from opposite diagonal corners (Figure 26). The monarca,
this time with one malinche on each side of him, acts as the last
man in the right line.
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The "weaving" now
begins. The lead men, facing each other, zigzag first to the right and
then to the left, thus approaching each other while moving across in front
of each other (Figure 27). They begin the zigzag right again, but
this time, they cross by each other. On the zigzag left, they cross behind
each other and in front of the next man in line. At the start of this
second zigzag, the second men in line take up the zigzag pattern. Thus
the second man zigzags behind the first man of the opposite line and in
front of the second (Figure 28). Each pair of men joins in similarly
until a weaving pattern is established.
When a dancer has woven through
the entire opposite line, he makes a final zigzag right, then turns and
waits instead of completing the zigzag left. He is then in a position,
and in beat, for returning in the other direction.
Transition: The right
line ends the pattern in its original place and so the men simply dance
in place. The men in the left line, who end at the back of the hall, walk,
in pedestrian movement, back to their original places. The abuelo calls
for turns. As in the standard opening procession, the two lines cast off,
walking rather than dancing, to the back, then turn inward and dance down
the center, picking up monarca and the two malinches on the way. Abuelo
calls for turns again.
Section 2: The
monarca, with one malinche on each side of him, leads the right
line of dancers around the first man in the left line. The threesome
then snake in and out between the men, leading the right line
between all the dancers in the left line (Figure 29).
To return, when the
threesome have completed their snaking up the line, they simply
veer right and continue dancing straight down the right side of
the hall, leading the left line behind them into their original
positions. Abuelo calls for turns.
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The snaking pattern is repeated
to the opposite side, the monarca leading the left line through the right.
This time, when the pattern is complete and the threesome veer left at
the back of the hall to return the left line to its original position,
the right line backs up. The two lines meet, as their leaders are about
halfway down the hall. Flanking the monarca and two malinches, they dance
forward together.
Closing sequence:
Abuelo calls for turns. The dance ends with the usual three backward
and forward steps and bow.
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