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

With Calls, instructions, diagrams, steps & sheet music

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	160	American Square Dances
	THE COGWHEEL, DESCRIPTION
	This trimming comes from the Mexican Quadrille. There are several methods of leading into this figure and it has many variations and versions.* The ladies dance into the center, curtsey, and dance back to place. As the ladies retire, the gentlemen dance forward to form a Right Hand Star which circles clockwise half around. The gentlemen now reverse to a Left Hand Star which circles until the gentlemen are at their home place where they pick up their Partners by linking their right arms with the ladies' left arms, forming a Double Star, which continues counterclockwise. When the dancers reach their Opposites' positions in the set, the * If this trimming is used with the "Texas Star," it should be called after the fourth change of that dance, with all in their home places. Often the "Cogwheel" is used as a fourth change in the 'Texas Star," but this particular version should be used only after the dance, as a trimming, and not as a fourth change. This combination of calls is particularly effective, as the two blend well. This version of the "Cogwheel" is always led by the First Lady, who starts the ladies' star at the Third Couple's position in the set.