The Spandex Spectacular
Time Allowance: 15-20 Minutes
Equipment Needed: Spandex Loops
Steps
1. Background -- I made my way down to So-Fro Fabrics and asked for some Spandex. When I told her I wanted yards of the material, she became a bit more tolerant of my being in her shop. Anyway, I found a couple of bolts (that’s fabric talk for lots of material) of neon Spandex -- green and pink -- that was on sale at half price. Gloree (my talented wife) sewed the ends together with a double lock stitch (I hoped that means something to you), which proved to be a solid connector for the considerable abuse that the fabric was soon to bear. Once the fabric loops were presented for use, anyone with a dollop of play potential knew what to do. Playing with this stuff is definitely fun and offbeat enough to attract the most jaded juvenile.
2. if you get inside the loop with three to eight other people, and lean back against the encircling fabric, you find that a yurt circle type support band is achieved, as players rely on one another to achieve a literally layed-back balanced position. A synergistic antipodal balance is achieved and maintained through the paradox of group dependence vs. individual expression.
3. Ask your large group to fill the interior of a small Spandex loop with themselves and then move somewhere together.
4. Half of the group on the outside of the Spandex circle leans in, and half of the group on the inside of the circle leans out, producing equilibrium and balanced standing position for everyone -- you wish!
5. Ask four risk-takers, who also happen to be fleet of foot and don’t mind occasional body contact, to locate themselves (north, south, east, west) inside the large Spandex circle and lean back against the material. North and south then rapidly change position, while east and west hold their geography. As soon as north and south change, then east and west change while north and south maintain position. Sound confusing? Wait until you see it in action. There isn’t much time to think, so remember to pass only on the right.
6. Stretch the fabric between some people and then thrust your face and hand forcefully against the fabric. Make sure you have some observers on the far side; otherwise, what’s the use?
Processing Issues
Trust
Cooperation