The Lloyd Shaw Foundation is dedicated to the preservation, restoration and teaching of the folk dances of America.
FOUR IN A CENTER LINE(or Right and Left Along that Line)
Found in "Cowboy Dances," by Lloyd Shaw, all editions, pp 264-267
First couple bow and swing
Promenade the outside ring
Just half way round beside couple three
(Alternatively, couple one could move
down center, split couple three, separate,
round one, to stand at the outside of
couple three in a line of four. This method
will remove the possibility of chaining
four ladies as discussed below.)
Four in line to the center and back
To the center again and there stand pat
Side couples right and left along the four
Right and left back as you were before
Side ladies chain through the center line
Chain right back you're doing fine
Center four circle four
And finish it off with a docey doe
Partner left and opposite right
With a blue roan and a piebald white
Meet your own and get along home
Everybody swing your own
Note: On the final figure of chaining the ladies along the lines (or through the line), it could be done by chaining all four ladies along the line until all ladies are back in their original places. This means that the center couples must turn to face the nearest side couple and the ladies chain. Each end man (side men) would turn their ladies full around to send them back into the set while the center men only turn half way to send their ladies on to the next spot.
First couple bow and swing
Promenade the outside ring
Just half way round beside couple three
(Alternatively, couple one could move
down center, split couple three, separate,
round one, to stand at the outside of
couple three in a line of four. This method
will remove the possibility of chaining
four ladies as discussed below.)
Four in line to the center and back
To the center again and there stand pat
Side couples right and left along the four
Right and left back as you were before
Side ladies chain through the center line
Chain right back you're doing fine
Center four circle four
And finish it off with a docey doe
Partner left and opposite right
With a blue roan and a piebald white
Meet your own and get along home
Everybody swing your own
Note: On the final figure of chaining the ladies along the lines (or through the line), it could be done by chaining all four ladies along the line until all ladies are back in their original places. This means that the center couples must turn to face the nearest side couple and the ladies chain. Each end man (side men) would turn their ladies full around to send them back into the set while the center men only turn half way to send their ladies on to the next spot.
