Rattlesnake twist

Found in “Cowboy Dances,” by Lloyd Shaw, all editions, pp 274-275.

All join hands and circle eight

Reverse back the other way

Circle home don’t take all day

Now first gent break for the Rattlesnake twist

(First gent breaks hands with his partner and turning toward couple four, ducks through an arch made by couple four, pulling the fourth woman behind him as he (man 1) walks outside the circle behind man four to go into the circle through an arch made by man four and woman 3. Man four must duck under his own right arm (dishrag) to follow along. This is best done by man four raising not only his right arm – holding to his partner – but also his left hand – holding to his corner – so that he can essentially put both his hands together over his head as he turns on his own axis right face to follow his partner. Then man one, leading couple four, ducks out of the circle again through an arch made by couple three. Man three must duck under his own right arm (dishrag) to follow along. Man three will have to do the same dynamics as man four did in order to follow his partner around the outside of the circle. Then man one, leading couple four and three, ducks into the circle again through an arch formed by man three and woman two and out again through an arch formed by couple two and finally into the circle under the arch formed by man two and woman one. Man two will have to do the same dynamics as man four and three did in order to follow his partner around the outside of the circle. As man one clears the last arch, coming into the circle again, he pulls the entire line of dancers behind him into a circle of eight moving clockwise (left).)