American Square Dances of The West
& Southwest - online instruction book

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of the West and Southwest
85
The First Gentleman dances to the Second Gentleman and these two link their right elbows and swing once around, clock­wise, with the Elbow Swing. The First Gentleman and the Second Lady now join their left hands, chest high, elbows bent with pressure against the other person's palm, thus taking the place of a "grip" or grasp, and swing once around counter­clockwise with a Left Hand Swing. The First Gentleman and the Second Gentleman again link their right elbows and swing once and a half times around clockwise with the Elbow Swing.
The First Gentleman now dances home and takes both hands with his Partner, hands held chest high, elbows held close to the sides, the lady's palms down and the gentleman's palms up with pressure of the palms taking the place of a handclasp. The First Couple swings clockwise with this Two Hand Swing with the gentleman releasing his left hand but holding with his right hand at the completion of the swing so that the lady rolls to his right side, both dancers facing the center of the set.
The First Gentleman now dances across the set and repeats the figure with the Third Couple and then dances back home for a Two Hand Swing with his Partner, after which the First Gentleman dances to his left and repeats the figure with the Fourth Couple and then dances home, and all Promenade their Partners once around the set to home place. The call is re­peated with the Second, Third, and Fourth Gentleman in turn leading the dance.
once around; in a few cases they are used for a half around swing. The Two
Hand and Waltz Swing are always clockwise. A good rale to follow is that whenever a Once and a Half Swing is called for between gentlemen, always use the Elbow Swing. If called for between ladles and gentlemen or between ladies, always use the Forearm Swing. There is no call for the Forearm Swing; often the Elbow Swing is called for when the Forearm Swing is desired by the caller or the movement requires it, but the usual designation for the Forearm Swing is the call of "Once and a Half »n