This maypole dance requires at least eight dancers, twelve
is the preferable amount.
Each group of four is arranged
around the pole. The two on the outside of the group of four hold their
ribbons tight and stand facing toward the
pole. They remain in position as the ribbons are wrapped. The inside
two face each other.
The first move of the dance is for the inside dancers (1 and 2) to move toward
each other and pass around each other
by right shoulders.
They continue around outside 3
and 4.
On the other side, they
approach each other on the outside of the circle and, this time passing by left
shoulders, circle around each other and head back to their starting positions (first
diagram). When
there is no more ribbon to create the ladders, all dancers circle around the pole counter-clockwise.