Spot Turn (4 counts ; 8 musical beats)

Introduction

The Spot Turn is similar to an American Spin, although slower in nature, since the turn is performed over two steps.

Steps

1: (Step back)

The lady faces south directly in front of the man, who faces north.

The man holds the lady's right hand in his left hand.

The man leads the lady to move backwards (stepping back on her right foot in preparation for an anticlockwise rotation) — by pushing her right hand slightly with his left hand — as he moves backwards (stepping back on his right foot in preparation for an anticlockwise rotation).

2: (Step in)

The lady faces south stepped away directly in front of the man, who faces north.

The man holds the lady's right hand in his left hand.

The man leads the lady to move forwards-left and rotate slightly anticlockwise (with weight on her left leg) — by bringing his left hand (and the lady's right hand) across to his right at waist height — as he moves forwards-right and rotates slightly clockwise (with weight on his right leg).

The amount of the turn led can be varied from a small preparation to more than 90^o, depending on the lead and style.

3: ()

The lady faces east/southeast on the left side of the man, who faces approximately northeast/east.

The man holds the lady's right hand in his left hand.

The man leads the lady to spin 270+^o anticlockwise (with weight on her left leg) — by bringing his left hand (and the lady's right hand) forwards between both partners and then releasing the lady's right hand from his left hand with a slight push away. — as he spins 270+^o clockwise (with weight on his right leg).

4: (Catch, and step back)

The lady faces south directly in front of the man, who faces north.

The man typically catches both of the lady's hands in a double handhold, or catches the lady's right hand in either of his hands.

The man typically catches the lady's hands in a double handhold, or catches the lady's right hand in either his left or right hand. The man leads the lady to finish the spin (placing weight onto her right foot as a brake and then stepping back on her left leg) — by pushing her hand(s) slightly with his hand(s) — as he finishes the spin (placing weight onto his left foot as a brake and then stepping back on his right leg).

5: (Finish)

The lady faces south stepped away directly in front of the man, who faces north.

The man typically has a double handhold with the lady, or holds the lady's right hand in either of his hands at waist height.

Notes

Variations