Hocus Pocus Halloween Line Dance How To

Boil toil and trouble, Halloween has returned, and with it the Sanderson sisters. With a little Hocus Pocus you can do a Halloween Line dance to “I put a spell on you.” Come little children and give it a spin!

Halloween history

Halloween started a Celtic holiday. The Samhain marked the end of the Druids year. The veil between the worlds is thin on Oct 31 and they would carve pumpkins and dress up to scare off evil spirits. Now we all get in the spirit and dress up to temp little children with treats.

Sanderson Sisters

The Sanderson sisters were based off the most sinister legends of witches. Things like consuming children, casting spells, and dancing until you die. But not all witch legends are sinister. Some of them are worth raising a glass to.

Alternate witch history

Another perspective on witches is that they were the early brewers. These Alewives wore black rimmed pointy Heinen hats. They poured hours over a large black cauldron brewing mash for a healing pot of spirits. When the beer was ready, they would put a broom over the door to signify the Ail was ready for consumption. Drink enough of this fermented delight and you would swear you were flying. What about the green face? Consume too much and you may turn green. But the truth is summed up in one word. Oz.

Hocus Pocus Halloween Line Dance

Several years ago, I was asked to teach dance at the parade of pumpkins at the Denver botanic gardens. For this event I created this line dance from an ancient Maltese Branle to the song “I put a spell on you.” The steps are likely something the Sanderson sisters would have done as they form “a calming circle.” This dance can be done in a line or a circle.

Hocus Pocus Halloween Line Dance How To

Calming circle variation. Commence by holding hands in a circle facing the center. Can be done in a circle around a cauldron with a cat. 🙂

Basic Branle to left and right:

Side, close, side, kick (left, right, left, kick right) Side, close, side, kick (right, left, right, kick left) repeat left and right. (This can also be done as a grapevine with a crossing step.

Step tap clap and spell forward and back

Step, forward left Foot, right foot tap. Step right foot forward, left Foot tap. Step forward Left Foot, right foot tap hands clap 3 times over left shoulder.
Step back right Foot Left Foot tap. Step back left Foot, right Foot tap, Step back right Foot Left Foot tap hands to center wiggle fingers ohooo.

Repeat from the top until the song is finished.

Line dance variation facing forward, 1 wall.

Basic Branle to left and right:

Side, close, side, kick (left, right, left, kick right) Side, close, side, kick (right, left, right, kick left) repeat left and right. (This can also be done as a grapevine with a crossing step.

Step tap clap and spell forward and back

Location:

We filmed at Adventures in Dance using the song “I put a spell on you” sung by Robyn Adel Anderson on Postmodern Jukebox. Special thanks to the dynamic trio, Rhonda, Peggy, and Jane for dancing in this tutorial. They were inspired to dress up as the Sanderson sisters for Halloween and willing to put this dance on film. They were good sports for staying up for a spell to put this on film. Dance with happy feet!

Cast:

Cat– Holly Tomazin

Winnifred– Pegy Boben

Sarah– Rhonda Underhill

Mary– Jane Braithwaite

Camera:

Craig Tomazin

Holly Tomazin
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