Starting formation
Ocean Wave
Command examples
- Spin The Top
- Spin The Top; Spin It Again (i.e., go twice)
- Spin Your Top
- Spin Your Top, Do A Right and Left Thru
Dance action:
Each end and adjacent center Turn 1/2. New centers Turn 3/4 while the ends move forward in a quarter circle around the formation to become ends of the final Ocean Wave.
Ending formation
Ocean Wave perpendicular to starting formation
Timing
8
Styling
Use same styling as in Swing Thru.
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Comments
The Facing Couples Rule applies to this call.
The combination “Spin The Top, Right and Left Thru” must be delivered so that dancers 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.
When Spin The Top is used from an Ocean Wave of 3 dancers, the caller must specify who starts (e.g., Right Spin The Top, Starting With The Right Spin The Top, Boys Start Spin The Top). The designated dancers Turn 1/2. The non-designated dancer and the new center dancer Turn 3/4 while the other dancer moves up around the outside of the formation to end in a new Ocean Wave of 3 dancers. This usage is uncommon.
From a Left-Hand Ocean Wave, the phrase “Left Spin The Top” is acceptable. “Left” is a helping word (see “Part 4: Additional Detail: Commands: Extra words”).
From a Right-Hand Ocean Wave, the phrases “Left Spin The Top” and “Centers Start, Spin The Top” are improper.
ARC Decisions
(October/November 2002)
Q: Would it be proper to call “Reverse Spin The Top?”
A: No. There is a call, #190 in the Burleson Encyclopedia, named “Reverse The Top” that describes this very action. The consensus of the committee is that if this action is to be used (without workshopping the call Reverse The Top) it should be called “In Reverse Order, Spin The Top.” The committee further recommends that this type action should NOT be used at MS and Plus as it is too confusing and difficult to comprehend.
(May 2014)
Q: The formation was Two-Faced-Line. The calls given were “Begin with a Partner Trade and Spin The Top.”
A: This application was voted to be improper, as it does not comply with the MS definition. The starting and ending formation for Spin The Top is Ocean Wave. The definition states that the end and adjacent center Turn 1/2, NOT Partner Trade. There is no need to trick the dancers.