Instructions from Old Fort Williams:

"Regarding the paddle dance, it's probably one of the simplest to do-
-
-form two lines of people, spaced apart by 6 feet or so, hands
clapping, music playing; one person is at the head, standing between
the two lines, holding a paddle; that person has to choose a dance
partner from the head of either line; the respective heads of the
line can make a show of trying to "win" the favor of the person
choosing the dance partner, going on bended knee, bowing grandly,
playing up their appearance, apparel, grooming themselves etc--making
a show of it;

once the choice is made, the "chooser" hands off the paddle to
the "losing" candidate & the newly formed couple dances down the
middle in between the two lines, going to the end; the couple thens
splits off to rejoin the respective lines; meanwhile, the "loser"
with the paddle can make his/her choice of a dance partner and so it
goes...it can go on & on...