The weave takes shape together
On udansa connect, you can find other adults for folk dancing and group rehearsals. With a regular group, you can practice the meeting patterns and learn to unravel the ribbon weave.
Bavarian Folklore5 minutes
How the Maypole Dance Weaves Around the Tree in Bavaria
By Mary De LucaUpdated
- In the Upper Bavarian ribbon dance, two groups moving in opposite directions weave their ribbons by passing one another alternately over and under.
- Each dancer holds a ribbon and keeps to their assigned direction of travel while weaving.
- To undo the weave, retrace the sequence of crossings in reverse, starting with the last crossing formed.
- Only reversing the paths of the encounters in the right order will undo the weave, simply changing direction is not enough.
The weave records the paths where dancers meet
As an example, this describes the Oberbavarian Bandltanz in a counter-moving weaving formation, as performed in the repertoire of traditional costume groups. This does not claim to represent a single version followed everywhere: the number of dancers, music and additional figures can vary. The description covers the weaving section performed by an adult group, not a simplified children’s choreography.
The basic formation has two directions of travel, one ribbon per person and two sections: weaving and unwinding. The ribbons are attached to the top of the pole. When you meet someone coming toward you, your paths determine which ribbon lies over the other at that point. At the next meeting, this arrangement switches. The continuous crossings create a weave rather than a simple winding.
Your arms create the opening, your feet carry out the crossing. Lifting just one ribbon is not enough if both people pass on the same side. So if you mix up right and left while dancing, you can start by focusing on the next meeting, rather than trying to follow a long sequence of words.
The visible pattern depends on the whole group. Unlike a freely moving pair, no one can spontaneously add an extra turn. Formation changes in show dance also require everyone’s paths to work together, but in the Bandltanz, any deviation is additionally preserved as a physical crossing in the weave.
The basic structure of the interlaced hold
- Opposite directions of travel
- 2
- Band per dancing person
- 1
- Sections: Braiding and Unbraiding
- 2
Understand the weave sequence from the inside
Taking your own path around the circle
Join one of the two rows moving in opposite directions and take your ribbon. In this weaving variation, the rows alternate in the starting formation. Remember your neighbors and which way you’re facing, as both will help you recognize when you’ve returned to the original formation.
Keep your distance from the tree
Start moving along your circular path with the band slightly taut. Keep your arm mobile instead of pulling the band with a locked elbow. Leave enough slack so you can pass someone you meet without pulling the band opposite you out of its path.
Make the first crossing clear
Perform the first crossing assigned to your position: your band goes over or under the oncoming band. When going over, raise your arm in good time. When going under, pass through the opening provided instead of pushing your head against a taut band.
Switch at the next encounter
At your next encounter with someone coming toward you, switch from over to under or from under to over. Keep moving in the same direction around the circle. Look toward this person before you cross paths, so you can create the opening together instead of dodging at the last moment.
Reach the shared turning point
Continue the encounters until the agreed end of the weaving section. Turn together with the group while the loose ribbon ends still leave enough room to move. Stay with your ribbon and remember who you crossed paths with most recently before heading back.
Undo the Last Crossing First
Go back along the path you just took and undo the last crossing first. Recreate how it opened instead of automatically starting a new over-under pattern. The key is to reverse this specific crossing: the last intertwined pair of bands must first be freed from each other again.
Return to the starting arrangement
Undo the remaining crossings in reverse order, keeping the movement on your ribbon light. At the end, the ribbons hang separately again and the original arrangement is restored. If a crossing remains, stop there instead of trying to undo the rest by pulling hard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bandltanz is a Bavarian term for a Bändertanz, but it does not refer to the same choreography everywhere. In the Upper Bavarian plaiting version described here, crossing the ribbons around the tree is the main focus. The name alone does not specify a particular melody, all the figures, or the number of dancers.
You do not need a freshly erected maypole for the plaiting movements, but rather a suitable, stable ribbon tree. The ribbons must be attached at the top and run freely down to the group. A tall, decorated village maypole and a tree used specifically for the dance serve different purposes, and not every maypole is suitable as a dance prop.
The version with dancers moving in opposite directions explained here requires an even number of dancers, divided into two equally sized lines. This does not establish a required number of dancers for all Bavarian versions. More people mean more encounters and require enough space around the tree, as well as suitable ribbon lengths, so the movements can be performed without crowding.
Music from the relevant traditional dance version works best, with an easy-to-hear pulse and clear sections. Any fast folk music piece is not a substitute for this pairing. For the plaiting paths, it is important that the group moves forward at an even pace and reaches the turning point together. The steps and exact counts depend on the version you choose.
The loose sections of ribbon get shorter because more and more of the ribbon is tied up in the plait around the tree. This is not a mistake at first. You therefore need to adjust your distance from the tree as you plait. If you try to keep your original large circle unchanged, you create unnecessary tension, which gets in the way of the other dancers as they pass each other.
Stop the group and take the strain off the affected ribbons instead of tightening the knot by continuing to move. Trace the last incorrect crossing and undo it by following the same path in reverse. A missed change of sides, an extra turn around the tree, or a ribbon held twisted may look similar, but each requires you to undo the mistake that actually occurred.
