Maltese Branle

The Maltese Branle is a circle branle, supposedly invented by the Knights of Malta to burlesque the Turks.

Most famous for the repeated bit where people dance into the middle waving their hands wildly, before executing three gonad-high kicks into the centre of the circle. This can be hysterical when performed by men in full leg-armour.

The melody used for Maltese accelerates as it goes on; some dance-tapes also include a repeat performance which starts at three-halfs speed and picks up from there, which has come to be nicknamed the Suicide Branle.

The melody (with acceleration) can also be used to dance the Calathean Branle which is the one with the twirling back and forth that makes some people very dizzy.