The bee will run through a small wave-like pattern ( a waggle run or waggle phase ) . After this , it will turn to the right and circle back to the starting point ( the return phase ) . A worker bee 's waggle dance involves running through a small figure-eight pattern : a waggle run ( aka waggle phase ) followed by a turn to the right to circle back to the starting point ( aka return phase ) , another waggle run , followed by a turn and circle to the left , and so on in a regular alternation between right and left turns after waggle runs .