With music played to a slow fox trot rhythm, partners circle counter clockwise, arms joined, with the ladies on the outside. Inspired by Native dance and created by Marie Lysing Johnson, the 5-step Ice Worm Wiggle Dance consists of running steps, swinging arms, quick hopping, foot shuffling, hand joining, and "Yippee" shouting.

First reported at the Muir Glacier in 1887 by George Frederick Wright, ice worms have long been a part of Southeast Alaskan lore and continue to be topics of interest, amusement, and science. Long believed to be fictitious, these small black worms resembling a bit of thread and have been found to be the only earthworms that live in snow or ice.

The exuberant Ice Worm Wiggle Dance accompanies singing of "The Ice Worm Wiggle." Written in the 1930s by Carol Beery Davis, "The Ice Worm Wiggle" was the feature of a 2002 Juneau-Douglas City Museum exhibit about recreation, entertainment, and amusements of early Juneau. The lyrics are still sold in the gift store along with a book, Aurora Images, by Davis listing a number of Alaskan songs.

The Ice Worm Wiggle

words and music by Carol Beery Davis, reprinted with permission of Connie Davis

See the sneaking, peeping ice worms wiggle in and out
Where choppy waves the floating icebergs jiggle all about,
Peppy, wily, creepy, chilly,
Eager to romp with "Cheechako" Willie
"Ahk-tu-wu-ye-keh" O Cheechako ------ Yippee!
"Ahk-tu-wu-ye-keh" O Cheechako!
Turn the ice worm wiggle loose!
Glaciers gleam with misty dews.
Thrilling ice worms lurk for you
Where Alaskan icebergs cruise.
"Ahk-tu-wu-ye-keh" -- Thlingit Welcome -- "My heart is glad."
"Ahk-tu-wu-ye-keh" to you!
Let's "mush on" to a sourdough stew!
When the ice worms start a crawling,
And the sea gull's mate is calling,
Say! Let's all turn the ice worm wiggle loose!