on she came , flicking her long ribbons at the phalanx , dancing fast and seemingly with abandon - but her techique was impeccable , split-jumps and pirouettes and side-capers and tiny mouse-like scampering runs , and she kept turning , turning , every time the phalanx pushed forwards or tried to close in on her , wrong-footing them , dancing close and then springing back , and every time she did it , she wound one of her ribbons round one of them , round the ankles or the wrists .