Teaching Resource for (Anything) AND SPREAD
Links: Standard – Analyze – Module – Teach – Other – Extend
CALLERLAB Program: Plus
Teaching Order: After Coordinate
Recently taught calls: Load the Boat, Peel Off
Background: Spread is listed among the December 1978 calls in Burleson’s Encyclopedia. It was an experimental in 1977 and it was in the Plus Two list as published in Sets in Order in 1980. The definition was revised from describing three separate rules to one rule in 2025.
Definition:
Starting formation for the Spread action (that is, where the (Anything) call would end if completed): Double Pass Thru, Eight Chain Thru, Right-Hand or Left-Hand Quarter Box, General Line of Four, General Parallel Lines, General Crossed Lines, and General Tidal Line. (See Formation Note below.)
Dance action: As the dancers complete the (Anything) call, the centers slide apart while each end moves forward or sideways into the nearest vacated center position. Centers exchanging places with ends pass in front of those ends unless the body flow dictates otherwise.
When the starting formation is one or two General Lines, the Spread action is performed within each line.
Dancers should adjust their motion to blend smoothly into the Spread action as the preceding (Anything) call finishes.
From a General Line, doing just 1/2 of the Spread action produces a Box.
Ending formations: Various depending on the ending formation for the Anything call.
— If the Anything call would end in a Double Pass Thru formation it will be Facing Lines.
— If the Anything call would end in an Eight Chain Thru formation it will be Inverted Lines.
— If the Anything call would end in a Right or Left-Hand Quarter Box it will be Three and One Lines.
— If the Anything call would end in Parallel Two-Faced Lines it will be Parallel Two-Faced Lines of the same handedness.
— If the Anything call would end in a Wave formation, the handedness will be changed.
— If the Anything call would end in a Thar the handedness will be changed.
Timing: 2
Comments:
The following examples describe some of the commonly used applications.
Typical uses where centers slide apart and ends step forward between them:
• From Parallel Two-Faced Lines: Ferris Wheel and Spread
• From a Static Square: Heads Touch 1/4 and Spread
Typical uses where all dancers slide face-to-face:
• From Parallel Waves: Follow Your Neighbor and Spread
• From a Right-Hand Tidal Wave: Grand Swing Thru and Spread
• From a Thar Star: All 8 Spin the Top and Spread
• From a Right-Hand Box: Follow Your Neighbor and 1/2 Spread (result is Facing Couples)
Typical uses where designated dancers slide face-to-face:
• From a Static Square: Sides Spin the Top and Spread (the Sides slide face-to-face)
• From BBGG waves: Spin the Top and the Girls Spread (just the Girls slide face-to-face)
Typical uses where centers slide in front of ends, but not face-to-face:
• From Parallel Two-Faced Lines: Acey Deucey and Spread
• From Parallel Two-Faced Lines: Fan the Top and Spread
• From Facing Lines: Bend the Line and Spread
A typical use where the body flow dictates that centers slide behind the ends:
• From Lines Facing Out: Bend the Line and Spread
Formation Note: From a Squared Set, “Heads Touch a Quarter” makes a Right-Hand Quarter Box. A Thar Star is an example of General Crossed Lines.
Historical Note: This definition was changed in 2025 to simplify the rules. Former 8-dancer applications of the Spread action where the Leaders or Actives are not in the center are now improper (for example, “Double Pass Thru and Spread”). In many of those cases, “Centers In” can be used instead.
Facing Couple or Ocean Wave Rule: (Neither rule applies.)
Link to Taminations: Taminations (Anything) and Spread