Mainstream
Spin the Top
Links: Define – Standard – Analyze – Module – Other – Extend
Choreography for Patter Teaching with Singing Call Options:
Teaching Tips:
Spin the Top
A.) The person you start with is the one you finish with.
B.) Tell the ends to meet the centers around the corner.
C.) Wave finishes at right angles from how you started.
D.) The action can be taught in parts; spin: ends and adjacent turn ½, new centers cast 3/4, top: new outsides move around the corner 1/4.
E.) Don’t assume dancers can Right and Left Thru from waves and don’t try to teach both.
More teaching suggestions:
— As in Cast Off 3/4, the centers, who are doing the Cast, should keep their inactive hand down until the completion of the call. If their inactive hand comes up prematurely, it could cause a tendency to stop too soon instead of finishing their 3/4 turn.
— Point out that dancers will end up with the same dancer they started with and with the same hand touching.
— The Standard Applications are all from a right-hand GBBG wave, but the dancers should experience having this wave Parallel to another, in a Tidal Wave or in the Center.
— This is often the first time dancers experience applying the Ocean Wave rule to Right and Left Thru so that will probably require a separate explanation.
— The combination “Spin the Top, Right and Left Thru” must be delivered so that dancers can adjust their hands as necessary for the Right and Left Thru instead of first finishing the Spin the Top in a hands-up Ocean Wave or other regional styling.
— The common flow module is “Swing Thru, Spin the Top, Right and Left Thru”. Make sure the dancers also experience other preceding and following calls.
Quick quote: “All Turn Half, Centers Turn 3/4, outsides move around to meet them”
Teaching Standard Applications:
Heads Square Thru Four,
Dosado, Swing Thru,
Spin the Top, Girls Run Right,
Wheel and Deal and Sweep a Quarter (Half-Sashayed),
Patter: Box the Gnat, Change hands, Left Allemande, Home
Singer: Swing and Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Heads Pass the Ocean, Extend
Swing Thru, Spin the Top,
Single Hinge, Column Circulate,
Men Run, Pass Thru,
Patter: Allemande Left
Singer: [ Trade By Allemande Left ], Swing & Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Heads Flutterwheel and Sweep a Quarter and Pass Thru,
Swing Thru, Spin the Top,
All by the Right Cast Off 3/4,
Column Circulate, Boys Run,
Patter: Allemande Left
Singer: Corner Swing and Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Heads Star Thru and Pass Thru,
Swing Thru, Spin the Top,
Girls Run, Each 4 Bend the Line,
Box the Gnat and Pass Thru, Trade By,
Patter: Allemande Left, Home
Singer: Swing and Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Heads Ladies Chain and Rollaway
Sides Pass the Ocean and Swing Thru
Extend, Boys Trade
Spin the Top, Pass Thru
Patter: Allemande Left
Singer: Swing and Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
From a Tidal Wave:
Sides Pass the Ocean, Extend,
Swing Thru, Spin the Top,
Each 4 Swing Thru and Spin the Top,
Patter: Boys Circulate, Boys Run, Promenade Short
Singer: All 8 Circulate, Boys Run, Couples Circulate, Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
From a Three-Quarter Tag:
Heads Pass the Ocean, Extend,
Swing Thru, Extend,
Centers Spin the Top, Others U-Turn Back,
Centers Pass Thru and Cloverleaf
Patter: Double Pass Thru, Leaders Partner Trade, Pass Thru, Allemande Left
Singer: to meet their corner, Swing and Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
From Half-Sashayed Facing Lines:
Heads Pass Thru and Separate around Two to a Line,
Forward and Back, Each Four Spin the Top,
Swing Thru, Boys Run, Bend the Line, Pass Thru
Patter: Allemande Left, Home
Singer: Swing and Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Spin the Top followed by Right and Left Thru:
Heads Square Thru Four,
[Dosado,] Swing Thru,
Spin the Top, Right and Left Thru,
Square Thru Three,
Patter: Allemande Left, Home
Singer: Swing and Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Heads Square Thru Four,
Swing Thru, Spin the Top,
Right and Left Thru,
Flutterwheel and Sweep a Quarter,
Patter: Allemande Left, Home
Singer: Swing and Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Heads Turn Thru and Separate around 1 to a Line,
Forward and Back, Pass the Ocean,
Swing Thru, Spin the Top,
Right and Left Thru, Pass Thru,
Patter: Allemande Left, Home
Singer: Swing and Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Heads Star Thru, Double Pass Thru,
Cloverleaf, Centers Pass Thru,
Swing Thru, Spin the Top,
Right and Left Thru, Pass Thru,
Patter: Allemande Left, Home
Singer: Swing and Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
From Facing Couples:
Heads Swing Thru and Spin the Top,
Extend, Girls Trade and Run,
Bend the Line, Each 4 Spin the Top,
Patter: Swing Thru, Boys Run, Ferris Wheel, Centers Star Thru, Home
Singer: Swing Corner, Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Heads Circle Left three-quarters and Pass Thru,
Box the Gnat, Spin the Top,
Single Hinge, Column Circulate, Boys Run
Patter: Allemande Left
Singer: Swing and Promenade
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Center Action:
Heads Box the Gnat and Spin the Top,
Extend, Single Hinge, Split Circulate,
Boys Run, Reverse Flutterwheel and Sweep a Quarter,
Pass Thru,
Patter: Allemande Left
Singer: Swing, Promenade