13. WEAVING

 

  “This exercise expresses the organic process within Nature, the process of building. Does not a circulation of electricity and magnetism occur between the North and South Poles of earth? This is expressed in this exercise through the crossing movements from left to right, and vice versa.
 “Furthermore, polarity exists within every material particle. Between the two poles, electric and magnetic energy fl ows. These forces work within man as well. Every organ has its polarity.
 “This exercise leads us to perceive, on the one hand, the constructive principle within Nature; and on the other hand, it indicates the right way of introducing harmony and rhythm into this process both internally as well as externally in the life of humankind.”

 Description
 Music: Melody 13 (“Weaving”) – 60 measures.
 Starting position
 All participants are arranged in couples with the left side facing towards the center. The dancers on the outer circle take two steps forwards so they are positioned ahead of the dancers on the inner circle. Start with the feet together. The elbows are bent in front of the chest. The elbows are horizontal and held at chest-height. Palms are facing down with middle fi ngers touching.
 All participants are arranged in couples with the left side facing towards the center. The dancers in the outer circle take two steps forwards so they are positioned in front of the dancers in the inner circle. Start with the feet together. The elbows are bent in front of the chest. The elbows are horizontal and held at chest-level. Palms are facing down with middle fi ngers touching.
 Movement sequence
 Sequence I
 1st measure, 1st beat: step forwards with the right foot and simultaneously the arms are extended horizontally to the sides, palms down (fi gure 13.1). On the 2nd beat: step forwards with the left foot and the arms return back to their starting position (figure 13.2).
 These movements are repeated for four measures, i.e. a total of eight steps, of which seven are moving forwards and on the eighth, the left foot is placed next to the right foot.
 Sequence II
 The arms continue to open and close as before. The foot which crosses is always in front of the other foot. Inner circle (which becomes the outer):
 5th measure, 1st beat: step to the right with the left foot crossing over the right. At
Fig 13.1
Fig 13.2

the same time hands extend horizontally to the sides, palms downwards as in the fi rst beat of the fi rst measure (fi gures 13.3 and 13.4).
 5th measure, 2nd beat: step sideways with the right foot to the right, at the same time the hands return to the chest.
 The movements of fi fth measure are repeated for the 6th, 7th and 8th measures. On the 2nd beat of the
 8th measure, the right foot comes besides the left.
 The 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th measures are the same as the fi rst four measures; i.e., the movements of both circles are forwards as in  Sequence I.
 The 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th measures are the same as in the 5th to 8th; i.e., the movements of Se-.

 
Fig 13.3
Fig 13.4
 
 quence II, the crossing-over are repeated but in the reverse direction, stepping to the left with the right foot crossing over the left.
 Outer circle (which becomes the inner):
 5th measure, 1st beat: step to the left with the right foot crossing in front of the left foot; simultaneously the hands extend to the sides horizontally (fi gures 13.3 and 13.4).
 5th measure, 2nd beat: step sideways to the left with the left foot. At the same time, the hands return to the chest.
On the 6th, 7th and 8th measures: the movements repeat, except on the 2nd beat of the 8th measure when the left foot comes besides the right foot (fi gure 13.5).
 The 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th measures are the same as the fi rst four measures; i.e., the movements of both circles are forwards as in  Sequence I.
 The 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th measures are the same as 5th to 8th; i.e., the movements of Sequence II, the crossing-over are repeated but in the reverse direction, stepping to the right with the left foot crossing over the right.
 By performing the movements of the 5th to 8th measures, the inner circle becomes outer and the outer circle becomes inner: the dancers exchange positions. The outer circle partner (from the beginning of the exercise) always passes in front of the inner; thus the inner partner is always behind the outer, regardless of the exchange of position. When making the sideways step, the dancers move slightly forwards on the diagonal. During these movements the starting position distance between the partners should be kept (figure 13.6).
Fig 13.5
Fig 13.6

 Sequence I and Sequence II repeat consecutively for 60 measures to the end of the music. At the end the partners will fi nd their positions reversed and should remain in these new positions for the rest of the Paneurhythmy. The partners should be level with each other before starting the next exercise.